Ward forced to head home after injury
ANDY MURRAY goes into his next match at the Miami Open against Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo today but his Great Britain Davis Cup colleague James Ward has had to fly home to rest a sore knee.
Ward, the British No 2, has paid a high price for his heroic win over John Isner in Glasgow earlier this month, having lost three first rounds subsequently, and now finds himself out of action for two weeks.
He was due to play in Guadeloupe next week but instead has gone back to London, where he hopes to be able to begin preparation for next month’s clay court events, once the knee has settled down.
Murray, who plays Colombia’s world No 31 Giraldo in the third round, expects to team up with Ward this summer at Queen’s Club for the Davis Cup quarter-final against France.
The two-week gap between the French Open and Wimbledon has been extended to three weeks and Murray feels the longer run-in after Paris will help him.
‘I think it’s better for me if there are more weeks on grass,’ he said.
‘A lot of the players will go and spend a week at home after Roland Garros, whereas, for me, I can easily practise on grass. For a lot of the players it’s not easy to get on grass courts.’
Meanwhile, Chris Evert has given a vote of confidence to Laura Robson by insisting that the former British No 1 can still make the world’s top 10 when she finally gets back from injury.
The American, among the all-time greats of the women’s game, reckons that Robson can make up for lost time despite having been out for 14 months with a wrist injury that required surgery last April.
Evert offered her endorsement as current Great British No 1 Heather Watson yesterday went out of the Miami Open second round, beaten 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 by world No 15 Angelique Kerber after creating enough chances to have won.
‘Yes it has been a very long time but Laura is still young so she will be fine,’ said Evert, who was speaking at the launch of her new Chrissie by Tail clothing line.
‘If she was 27 or 28 there would be a problem but she has got plenty of time on her side,’ said the 18-time Grand Slam winner.
‘I was very impressed with her at Wimbledon in 2013 before the injury. I was thinking top 10 for sure and that can still be attainable. But she has got to get herself really fit for her return to the tour and that is going to be tough for Laura.’
There are signs that Robson may finally be ready for a return to action in time for May’s French Open in Paris, despite missing out on Miami and taking her name off the entry list for next month’s WTA Tour event in Bogota. When she does come back, however, it is likely to be at a lower profile event.