A YEAR TO FORGET

It has been a season of struggle for Murray and here we chart his physical issues in 2017.

February

Murray suffered a shock fourthround loss to Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open and, on his return home, was diagnosed with shingles. He returned to action after a month off in Dubai and won his only title of the season.

March

Murray pulled out of the Miami Open because of an elbow problem and was then unable to carry out several commitments after contracting flu. This time he was sidelined for six weeks, also missing Great Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final against France.

May

With his form on clay shaky to say the least, murray was laid low by a heavy cold and cough the week before the French Open, which restricted his practice and required antibiotics. he recovered to reach the semifinals, losing to Stan Wawrinka.

July

Murray was unable to practise four days before the start of his Wimbledon title defence after a long-standing hip problem flared up. The Scot declared himself fit and limped through his five matches, but suffered his joint earliest exit from SW19 in a decade, beaten 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-1 by American Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals.

August

The hip injury forced Murray to withdraw from the Rogers Cup in Montreal and the Western &Sout hern Open in Cincinnati. In his absence, Rafael Nadal replaced him as world No 1. Pulled out of US Open two days before the start of the tournament, saying he was not fit enough to do himself justice.

6 September

Murray announces that he is unlikely to play again this year in order to undergo an “extended period of rest and rehabilitation”. Rules himself out of the ATPT our events in Beijing and Shanghai and also expects to miss the final two tournaments in Vienna and Paris, effectively ending his chances of defending his ATP Finals title in London.