After an incredible comeback on undergoing surgery this year, Andy Murray has withdrawn from the ATP Cup and the Australian Open.
Due to an injury setback, the former world no.1 has withdrawn from the opening leg of the new season.
After playing at the Australian Open, this year, which could’ve been Murray’s last tournament as he underwent hip resurfacing surgery from which recovery is tough, Murray was “disappointed” to miss out on an epic comeback at Melbourne Park.
Murray will not lead Great Britain at the first tournament of the season, at the ATP Cup where the Brits will compete against Belgium, Bulgaria and Moldova in Group C starting this Friday.
The multiple Grand Slam champion was scheduled to play his competitor Grigor Dimitrov in a night match against Bulgaria. James Ward will take Murray’s place on the team given this setback. Murray, disheartened about the outcome, said:
“After the (Australian Open) this year, 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.”
The announcement was not taken as a surprise by many as he cancelled his training block in Miami which was essential for the pre-season preparation. Murray suffered a groin injury in the match on the opening day of the Davis Cup against Tallon Griekspoor which forced him to sit out of the other matches.
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This season, Murray was on road to an almost perfect recovery as he won the doubles title at the Queen’s Club Championships as soon as he returned to tennis a mere six months from his surgery.
A bigger milestone greeted Murray at Antwerp where he won his first singles title in more than two years when he defeated Stan Wawrinka playing from a set down.
Ranking outside the top 500, Murray fought his way to end the year at 125.
Such promising results yielded the hope that the season would go off without a hitch for the Brit and that he would make a smashing return at the first Grand Slam of the year.
Along with Murray, Roger Federer, Matteo Berrettini and Lucas Pouille will not be a part of the first edition of the ATP Cup.
Murray is set to return to tour in February at Rotterdam and Montpellier and hopes for a smooth return to defend his title at the Tokyo Olympics in July next year.
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