The Sunday Post (Dundee)

Andy: I’m out

- By Eleanor Crooks SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM

Injured superstar forced out of Australian Open as he continues fight for fitness:

Andy Murray will play no part in the upcoming Australian Open.

The two-time Wimbledon champion had hoped to be back in Grand Slam action in Melbourne from January 20, but has been forced out by a pelvis injury.

An d y Mu r r a y last night admitted to being “gutted” to miss the Australian Open after failing to recover in time from an injury picked up at the Davis Cup finals last month.

The 3 2 - y e a r - o l d ’s contributi­on to Great Britain’s efforts inmadrid was restricted to one match after he suffered a problem with his pelvis.

It was initially thought the issue was minor and would not affect his participat­ion in either the season-opening ATP Cup or the Australian Open, which was set to be Murray’s grand slam comeback.

But alarm bells rang when he cancelled his training block in Miami and on Saturday his management company announced the Scot would not be travelling to Australia.

“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January,” Murray said.

“After the AO this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best, and that makes this even more disappoint­ing for me.

“Unfortunat­ely I’ve had a setback recently and as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.”

Murray is now back on court but, given it is still relatively early days in his comeback from hip surgery in January, his team made the decision not to rush his return to competitiv­e tennis.

There will therefore be no emotional return to

Melbourne Park, a year on from the press conference in which he revealed the extent of his hip problems and contemplat­ed retirement.

A remarkable five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut followed in what he accepted could have been the final match of his career.

But two weeks later, he underwent hip resurfacin­g surgery that removed the pain that had dogged him for two years. That enabled him to begin a tentative comeback at Queen’s Club in June.

By winning the European Open in Antwerp in October, Murray raised hopes his days as a contender for the biggest titles may not yet be over.

But he will not play a match until February at the earliest, with his first tournament now scheduled to be the Open Sud de France in Montpellie­r, beginning on February 2.

Murray’s announceme­nt also means he will not be part of the Great Britain team at the ATP Cup in Australia beginning on Friday.

Murray qualified Britain for the inaugural edition of the team event through his protected ranking of world No. 2. But Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie will now carry the responsibi­lity in Singles.

Britain play group matches against Bulgaria on January 3, Belgium on January 5 and Moldova on January 7, all in Sydney.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Andy Murray’s anguish continues
Andy Murray’s anguish continues
 ??  ?? Andy Murray last night pulled out of next month’s Australian Open
Andy Murray last night pulled out of next month’s Australian Open
 ??  ?? Murray celebrated success in Antwerp just two months ago
Murray celebrated success in Antwerp just two months ago

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