‘Gutted’ Murray to miss Australian Open
Andy Murray’s hopes of an emotional return to the Australian Open – the tournament where he all but announced his retirement last year – have been dashed after it emerged that the pelvic injury that affected him towards the end of last season has failed to heal sufficiently well for him to commit to the event.
It emerged last night that Murray will not, after all, be travelling to Australia this winter. His team made a late decision after his coach Jamie Delgado visited him in Scotland to discuss the issue.
“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play,” said Murray last night. “Unfortunately I’ve had a setback recently and as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.”
After so many false starts and demoralising setbacks in the last two-and-ahalf years, Murray and his staff have become highly risk-averse. In previous years, he would probably have at least travelled Down Under to give himself a chance of recovering in time for the
Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on Jan 20. But this time they have preferred to take the conservative option, which means Murray will spend January in a combination of oncourt practice sessions and doing gym work, all designed to make sure that when he does make his latest return – hopefully in February – there will be no further danger of a relapse.
Murray is entered into two tournaments that month, one in Montpellier which starts on Feb 3 and one in Rotterdam which starts on Feb 10.
Murray’s pelvic injury – which he has described as a bone bruise – developed in the build-up to November’s Davis Cup. As well as the Australian Open, Murray will also miss the ATP Cup – the new team competition which launches on Jan 3.