RUGBY CONNORS HAS THE
Murray’s swansong to start in French Open LEINSTER v OSPREY
ANDY MURRAY will play in the French Open later this month after confirming his comeback as a wildcard entry at the Geneva Open.
The former world No.1 has been out since late March after he ruptured ankle ligaments in Miami.
There were fears the injury could wreck his plans to play at the
French Open and Wimbledon one more time before he retires.
Murray also wants to make the Paris Olympics after winning singles gold for Team GB at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
The Brit, who turns 37 next week, avoided having to undergo surgery and his farewell tour has now been given the green light.
Murray has been training on clay and is fit to return in Switzerland on May 18 after two months out.
After that, he will play at the French Open, which takes place the following week, one last time.
The 36-year-old has not featured at the clay-court Grand Slam since 2020.
Murray’s retirement plan sees him compete at the grass-court Boss Open in Stuttgart in mid-June where he will begin his preparations for Wimbledon.
The British No.4 is expected to play at Queen’s the same month and will not defend his Challenger Tour titles in Surbiton and Nottingham.
Goodbye
Murray won two of his three
Major titles at Wimbledon and is guaranteed an emotional goodbye on Centre Court.
Wimbledon is followed by the Olympics at Roland Garros, where Murray hopes to enter the doubles tournament with Joe Salisbury, a six-time doubles Grand Slam winner.
Speaking after defeat to Tomas Machac in Miami, Murray admitted he was excited to end his illustrious career.
He said: “I am looking forward to the end now, give my best the next few months and get to be at home with my family.”
That this would be followed by being dropped out of the matchday squad for the semifinal against Northampton was disappointing.
Qualities
But it wasn’t as if qualities were not being recognised - he was offered a new contract late last week and signed it almost immediately but not before a post-Northampton ‘meet’ with the coach.
“The reality is you need to have those conversations and it is important to have them because when it comes to it, you need to figure out where you fit in the plan going forward because it is so competitive.
“If there was a plan for you not to be playing in the future,
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