Andy Murray to make Grand Slam return at Aus Open
MELBOURNE: Andy Murray will make his Grand Slam return at the Australian Open in January, a year after a career-saving hip surgery, tournament organisers announced on Tuesday.
The British three-time major winner has been slowly working his way back to fitness and is now ranked 289th, up from 503rd just a week ago.
With his confidence seemingly growing by the day, Australian Open organisers said the former world No 1 had committed to extending his comeback into the majors in January.
Its website said Murray “will return to the main draw with a protected ranking of number two and restored physical powers”.
World number one Novak Djokovic said it was “pleasantly surprising” to see Murray back following hip-resurfacing surgery. “Regardless of his ranking currently, he is a great champion and one of the greats of this game,” the reigning Australian Open champion said at the Shanghai Masters.
“If he’s healthy, you can definitely expect him to play at the highest level very soon.
“I wish him that, it’s great to see him back.”
Murray has made the final five times at Melbourne Park, losing four times to Djokovic and once to Roger Federer.
BOPANNA-SHAPOVALOV ENTER PRE-QUARTERS SHANGHAI: India’s Rohan Bopanna and his partner Denis Shapovalov entered the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters doubles with a 6-1, 6-4 win over the Russian pair of Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev here on Tuesday. The duo will now face the winner of the match between the pair of Borna Coric of Crotia and Runhao Hua of China and Polish-brazilian combination of Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo. ULAN-UDE(RUSSIA): Six-time champion MC Mary Kom (51kg) on Tuesday advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Women’s Boxing Championships after a hard-fought victory in the last-16 stage here.
Mary Kom triumphed 5-0 against Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong, a spunky boxer who kept the veteran on her toes with an aggressive approach but just did not connect enough.
The third-seeded Indian, who got a bye in the opening round, spent the first three minutes getting a good measure of her opponent before taking control of the proceedings.
Mary Kom, chasing her first world medal in the 51kg division, picked up pace in the second round and was especially sharp with her counter-attacks.
However, there was disappointment for India when former silver-medallist Saweety Boora (75kg) lost her pre-quarterfinal bout in a split decision despite a valiant fight.
Boora was up against secondseeded Welshwoman Lauren Price. Price is a European Games gold-medallist and fetched a bronze in the last edition of the world showpiece.
She is also the reigning Commonwealth Games champion besides, being a three-time bronze-medallist at the European Championships.
With a fancied opponent like Price, it was never going to be easy for the Indian but she put her best foot forward. Boora seemed unfazed by her rival’s reputation and managed to match her punch for punch for most part of the bout. However, the judges ruled 3-1 in Price’s favour.
Mary, who won her sixth world title at home last year is a step away from winning another medal at the event. She will be up against Lorena Victoria Valencia of Colombia in the quarter-finals Thursday. Mary j oins Manju Rani (48kg) who has also ensured a quarter-final berth .
Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), last edition’s bronze medallist, will f a c e Ou may ma B e l from Morocco in her first bout of the competition. Seeded third Lovlina got a bye in the first round. Jamuna Boro (54kg) will meet Algeria’s Ouidad Sfouh on Wednesday.