Murray, Konta targeting New York

ANDY Murray and Johanna Konta are both planning to play at the US Open if it goes ahead as scheduled in New York next month.

The ATP and WTA Tours have been on hold because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Murray and Konta will be taking part in the Battle of the Brits Team Tennis event next week at the Lawn Tennis Association’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Former men’s world number one Murray, US Open champion in 2012, is to play in the doubles as he steps up his own rehabilitation.

The Scot remains focused on the showpiece hard-court Grand Slam event at Flushing Meadows which is scheduled to start on August 31.

Asked if he was expecting the event to go ahead, Murray replied: “Yeah. As it stands. We have to try and prepare that way, we were saying four or five weeks ago, you know, we were pretty sceptical about it but mentally at some stage you need to start preparing and planning for that.”

Murray, 33, continued: “My training this week, for example, during the event next week, I’m planning to try and be there in shape for the US Open.

“If it wasn’t happening my schedule for practising, my rehab would all be a bit different. So yeah, mentally I’m planning for it to go ahead.

“Some sports have gone back, and seem to have done pretty well - football, for example. The issue for us is the travel.”

British women’s number one Konta, meanwhile, also indicated she would head to New York.

“To be honest, we haven’t had any (WTA player council) meetings for a few weeks now, but everything is pointing in the direction that it is going to go ahead,” the 29-year-old said.

“They have been quite vocal that they are pushing forwards. Just basing my opinion on all the information that is there, I think it probably will.”