Stirling Observer

THE BACK PAGE

-

Andy Murray has had to pull out of this week’s Miami Open after a mystery injury struck.

The Dunblane ace was set to play South African Lloyd Harris in the first round of the tournament but last weekend he said that he“struggled to walk”after developing pain while sleeping.

“I don’t know where it came from and why it happened,”he said.

“I woke up in the middle of the night at about 2.30, rolled over and felt like my groin was a bit sore,”he said.

“When I got up at six in the morning to go to the toilet, I was in a lot of pain walking.”

He said the problem felt similar to the one he experience­d after defeating Yoshihito Nishioka at last year’s US Open but he was at a loss to explain why this issue had flared up out of competitio­n.

“It’s a bit puzzling,”he said.“I don’t really understand it. My physios don’t really understand it either. I wouldn’t want to say exactly what it is or where it’s coming from until I get it looked at more.”

Big brother Jamie and his Brazilian partner Bruno Soares will face Marcus Daniell (NZ) and Philipp Oswald (Austria) in Miami hoping to have better luck after losing in the Mexican Open quarterfin­als in Acapulco last week to his former colleague Neal Skupski and his brother Ken. The Liverpool siblings went on to win the event.

British No.2 Cameron Norrie will join Andy and Jamie Murray in the Scottish team for this December’s Battle of the Brits against England in Aberdeen.

The event, which is scheduled at the P&J Live Arena on December 21 and 22, will see the Scots take on an English team featuring British No.1 Dan Evans and doubles Grand Slam champion Joe Salisbury.

Norrie, whose father David is from Glasgow, is currently ranked 56 in the world while Londoner Salisbury won last year’s Australian Open men’s doubles title with American partner Rajeev Ram and is currently ranked 13 in the world.

“My Dad is a very proud Scot and he’s going to be pretty excited to see me play for Scotland,”said Norrie.“It’s quite a rare opportunit­y, and it’s even more special when you get to walk out there with Andy and Jamie, the two best tennis players Scotland has ever produced. I’m excited to be part of it all.”

Jamie Murray, who is the tournament director, said:“We’re thrilled to have Cam and Joe on board. Both of those guys have been playing really well and it means both teams just keep getting stronger and stronger. It’s going to be a big couple of days of tennis and I’m really proud to be able to bring that level of competitio­n back to Scotland.”

Tickets are selling fast for the Battle of the Brits.

ALL THE LATEST FROM FORTHBANK

 ??  ?? Out Another injury foced Andy Murray to drop out of the Miami Open
Out Another injury foced Andy Murray to drop out of the Miami Open

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom