Murray trusting hip on hard court
Continues comeback at event he withdrew from in pain last year
Andy Murray’s departure from the 2018 Citi Open was an emotional one, featuring a match that ended at 3 a.m., tears and a withdrawal from the tournament.
This year, the three-time Grand Slam tennis champion is hoping to make happier memories in Washington.
In a surprise late addition to the tournament, Murray will continue his comeback from a career-threatening hip injury next week at the Citi Open. He will play doubles alongside his brother Jamie, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion who won last year’s doubles title in Washington with Bruno Soares.
The Citi Open, which will begin Monday and run through Aug. 4 at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, is Murray’s fourth event since his hip resurfacing surgery in January. It is the first hardcourt tournament he’ll play this year.
“I’m obviously very excited to be on the court with (Jamie) and also to go back to Washington,” Murray said in a release. “It’s a city I’ve always enjoyed visiting so it should be fun. I’m hoping to have a good summer over in the States, keep progressing physically and hopefully get back on the singles court soon.”
Murray, 32, has played three doubles events on grass since his surgery, which followed an emotional first-round exit in the singles draw at the Australian Open that had tennis fans bidding premature farewells. He won his first post-operation event last month in London at the Queen’s Club Championships alongside Feliciano Lopez, and lost in the first round at Eastbourne playing with Marcelo Melo.
At Wimbledon, he delighted crowds by pairing with Serena Williams for a run to the third round of the mixed doubles tournament and played men’s doubles as well, advancing to the second round with PierreHugues Herbert.
Next week will be Murray’s fourth appearance at the Citi Open after a 2006 run to the final where he lost to Arnaud Clement, a first-round upset in 2015 and last year’s fraught scene. Murray, playing through relentless hip pain, broke down in tears of happiness and relief at simply being able to complete a match after a three-set win sealed in the wee morning hours.
When his quarterfinal match was scheduled for later that same day, Murray withdrew as tournament director Keely O’Brien publicly implored him to stay. “I hope that Andy really takes into consideration this role in his sport and as a global role model to guys and girls on the tour and kids around the world that, when things are difficult and tough and the conditions aren’t great, it’s not OK to just give up,” O’Brien said.
In an Instagram post in November, Murray answered a question as to whether he would ever return to Washington. “Probably not after the tournament director rinsed me,” he wrote, adding a laughing emoji.
But in March, first-year tournament manager Mark Ein mentioned to Murray’s mother, Judy, that Ein would like to get Murray back to Washington. Months later, Murray’s team contacted the tournament to say they were interested.
While Murray’s return to Washington is sure to be a main attraction, he and his brother won’t be the only draw on the doubles court — each of the top 10 ranked doubles players in the world is committed to the Citi Open. Ein is a fan of doubles, not just for the skills the game showcases but also because it’s a chance to combine personalities, and he’s made it a point to highlight the doubles draw. He plans to schedule some high-profile doubles matches on stadium court.
World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kygrios, an interesting combination of personalities if there ever was one, will play doubles together for the first time in addition to competing in singles. The tournament will also feature 16-time Grand Slam champions and Citi Open stalwarts Bob and Mike Bryan; Wimbledon champions Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah; and doubles great Leander Paes teaming with Jack Sock.
“It’s a really exciting and compelling field,” Ein said. “I’m a huge believer that doubles can be a really impactful addition to a pro tournament when you get the right players and the right teams put together. We really wanted to bring the best of that to D.C.”