Murray out, Medvedev advances in Dubai
Saudi Arabia to have ATP rankings naming rights
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray reiterated Wednesday that he is likely to retire from tennis before the season is over.
“I’m likely not going to play past this summer,” the 36-year-old Murray said after losing 6-2, 6-4 to fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert at the Dubai Championships.
After rallying past Denis Shapovalov in three sets on Monday for his 500th hard-court win, Murray hinted he was heading into the “last few months” of his career.
And he expanded a bit on those plans after losing to Humbert, although he stopped short of setting a firm timeline.
“I get asked about it after every single match that I play, every single tournament that I play. I’m bored of the question, to be honest,” Murray said. “I’m not going to talk more about that between now and whenever the time comes for me to stop. But, yes, I don’t plan on playing much past this summer.”
Humbert didn’t face a break point before converting his first match point to reach the quarterfinals and secure his first career win over Murray, who lifted the trophy in Dubai in 2017.
Murray, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion, told BBC Radio earlier Wednesday that he wants to play at the Paris Games, which run from July 26-Aug. 11.
“Hopefully I can get the chance to compete at another (Olympics),” said Murray, who also won the U.S. Open in 2012.
Also, top-seeded Daniil Medvedev recovered from a set down to overcome Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
Medvedev opened his title defense Tuesday by beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 7-5 in his first match since losing the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner.
Medvedev will next face eighth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced after Jakub Mensik retired with an injury. Davidovich Fokina led 7-6 (7), 1-0 when Mensik stopped.
Jiri Lehecka saved five match points before rallying to beat fourth-seeded Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-4 and Sebastian Korda cruised past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 6-0.
Lehecka next faces No. 7 seed Alexander Bublik, who progressed with a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) win over Tallon Griekspoor. Korda will play second-seeded Andrey Rublev, the 2022 champion. Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth straight time after eliminating Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4.
Third-seeded Hubert Hurkacz advanced with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Christopher O’Connell, and he gets Humbert next.
NAMING RIGHTS: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the men’s professional tennis tour have agreed to a five-year partnership that includes naming rights for the ATP rankings.
The latest move into sports by the kingdom was announced Wednesday.
The ATP already had a deal that placed its Next Gen ATP Finals — a tournament for players 21 and under — in Jeddah through 2027. This new arrangement includes courtside branding for the PIF at the season-ending ATP Finals and tournaments in Indian Wells, California; Miami, Madrid and Beijing.