Murray to bring season to a close to concentrate on 2019
Andy Murray will compete in two tournaments in China over the next fortnight before bringing his season to an early close.
Murray, now ranked number 308 in the world, has taken the decision to miss the final two events in Shanghai and Paris in order to continue seeking improvements on the hip issue that has afflicted his recent career.
The 31-year-old hopes that, by adjusting his schedule, he will be in the best possible position to make a strong start to 2019. “I’m competing in Shenzen and next week in Beijing before calling an end to the year competitively. I’ll miss the last couple of tournaments of the year,” Murray said.
“I need a long period of training and reconditioning to get myself in the best shape possible for the beginning of the 2019 season and getting myself back competing for the biggest tournaments again. “Unfortunately I won’t be competing after Asia, but I’m looking forward to getting some hard training done and making some more improvements.
“It’s been really positive the last few months. I feel like I made big strides forward in the rehab from the hip surgery.
“I feel that with another strong training period, I’ll make some big improvements.
“Hopefully, the next couple of weeks go well in China, looking forward to it.”
Murray underwent surgery in January to correct a persistent hip issue that has forced him to miss almost a year of tennis.
In only his ninth match since undergoing the operation, the double Wimbledon champion last month lost to Fernando Verdasco in the second round of the US Open. Meanwhile, Jack Sock and Kevin Anderson saw off Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic 6-7 6-3 10-6 in the Laver Cup doubles to give Team World their first point of the tournament in Chicago.
Excitement had been building ever since it was announced the former world No. 1s would pair up for Team Europe in the competition’s second year – with the blue side hoping to take a clean sweep into the weekend after a trio of singles wins earlier in the day.
Federer and Djokovic took a while to settle into the four-man format, the latter – on the back of his singles US Open triumph and 14th Grand Slam title – accidentally hitting his partner with the ball in the third game. The Serbian and Swiss both laughed off the incident to the amusement of the crowd and went on to clinch the first-set tiebreak 7-6 (7/5).
But their opponents soon found their rhythm, taking the second set 6-3, with Sock’s experience as a three-time doubles major champion shining through on some impressive volley shots and Anderson displaying a strong serve.
The foursome went toe-to-toe in the early stages of the last set, but having seen their team-mates lose in two deciders earlier in the day, Sock and Anderson made sure not to waste their opportunity when Federer doubled-faulted at 4-4. An impressive return winner from Sock sealed the set 10-6, giving captain John Mcenroe a little relief before day two. The doubles game followed three singles matches earlier in the day – Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov putting the first point on the board for Europe after beating Frances Tiafoe 6-1 6-4.
Britain’s Kyle Edmund, a Laver Cup debutant, claimed an impressive 6-4 5-7 10-6 win over Sock and match three saw Belgium’s David Goffin add to Europe’s advantage as he beat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 6-4 4-6 11-9.
Team Europe lead 3-1 with two points up for grabs on day two.