Murray committed to Aberdeen Battle of Brits if it goes ahead

Andy Murray is committed to playing in the Battle of the Brits event in Aberdeen next week if it goes ahead.

The exhibition tournament at the P&J Live on Tuesday and Wednesday, the brainchild of his brother Jamie, will pit the leading male players from Scotland against their English counterparts.

But the rapid rise in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant has put large-scale events once more in doubt.

Murray missed out on a long-awaited return to the Australian Open last year because of an untimely bout of coronavirus but the 34-year-old is still planning to head to Aberdeen.

Speaking after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over English No. 1 Dan Evans in the exhibition Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Murray said: “As far as I’m aware it’s still going ahead but obviously it changes daily as to what the guidance is and what is and isn’t allowed.

“Certainly it’s very concerning what’s happening at home just now, the number of cases. It’s rising unbelievably quickly. There are lots of people who I know that have had the virus recently or have just caught it, which was not really the case with the first couple of waves.

“If they change the guidelines and fans are not allowed then that’s obviously a decision that my brother and the people organising the event would have to take.

“The last information we were given was I think yesterday morning that the event was still going ahead. There are different protocols in place now in terms of testing and limitations on the people you can bring with you. Things are obviously changing all the time just now so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Plans for a big Murray family Christmas in Scotland have been cancelled and the former world No. 1 will instead spend the period at home in Surrey with wife Kim, their four children and Kim’s parents.

He is also hoping to get the booster jab before travelling to Australia on December 27 or 28.

Results in exhibition events should be taken with a pinch of salt but Murray was certainly impressive against Evans, who was a late replacement and was off the pace, looking sharp and moving well to set up a semi-final against Rafael Nadal today.

● World No. 4 Karolina Pliskova has withdrawn from the Australian Open after injuring her hand.

Andy Murray was victorious in Abu Dhabi yesterday.