The Scotsman

Murray out of Rogers Cup in Canada and running out of time to be fit for US Open

- By EVE FODENS

World No 1 Andy Murray has withdrawn from next week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal as he continues to recover from a hip injury, Tennis Canada has announced.

Murray, right, has been in rehabilita­tion from the problem that ruined his Wimbledon campaign, but the tournament in Canada comes too soon. He said on the tourna- ment’s official website: “I am sad to be missing the tournament in Montreal because I have many great memories from my time in Canada. I am doing everything I can to return as quickly as possible.”

His withdrawal casts further doubt on his fitness for the US Open, which begins later this month.

Murray went into Wimbledon carrying a hip problem and it was doubtful whether he would even be fit enough to defend the title he won in 2016.

He was visibly limping through games, but looked to be managing until his quarterfin­al with Sam Querrey.

After taking the third set on a tie-break, Murray’s body gave up on him and the American raced through the final two sets, with the Scot hardly able to move.

A leading hip surgeon said after his exit that he would be 50-50 to make Flushing Meadows, but hopes were raised after he posted a video of himself on Instagram tentativel­y hitting a ball against a wall.

It is the second year in a row he has pulled out of the Masters 1000 event in Canada – alternated each year between Montreal and Toronto – after missing it last year in preparatio­n for the Olympic Games. Murray is listed to compete at the US Open’s final warm-up event – the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati – starting on 14 August but there is no word yet on whether he will be there. It means that next time he takes to the court he may no longer be world No 1 as Rafael Nadal closes in on his top spot.

The Spaniard is seeded first in Montreal and will return to the top of the rankings if he gets to the semi-final.

Murray joins Stan Wawrinka and Wimbledon runnerup Marin Cilic in pulling out of the event while Novak Djokovic will also be absent having confirmed he will miss the rest of the season due to an elbow injury.

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