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Tennis: Injured Murray out of Australian Open
SYDNEY, Jan 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Former world number one Andy Murray
withdrew from the Australian Open Thursday after failing to recover from a
hip injury, joining injured Japanese star Kei Nishikori on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old suffered the injury last year and has not played on the
ATP tour since losing in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
“Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to
compete,” Murray said in a statement.
“I’ll be flying home shortly to assess all the options but I appreciate
all the messages of support and I hope to be back playing soon.”
Australian Open’s tournament director Craig Tiley said he respected what
was a “very hard decision for Andy”.
“We are fully aware that Andy has been going through a difficult period
with his hip and that he’s done everything possible to prepare for the
Australian summer,” Tiley added.
Murray’s withdrawal comes amid a string of injury concerns that have
plagued some of the world’s top players and cast doubt on their participation
first Grand Slam of the year, which is due to begin in Melbourne on January
15.
Asian number one Nishikori, who has not played competitively since last
August after suffering a torn tendon in his right wrist during a practice
session at Cincinnati, also pulled out of the Slam earlier Thursday.
Former world number one and six times Australian Open champion Novak
Djokovic has not played since a right elbow issue forced him to quit
Wimbledon in the quarter-finals in July and has already cancelled scheduled
appearances at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and the Qatar Open in Doha.
He said he intended to test the injury next week at two exhibition events
in Melbourne next week, the Kooyong Classic and Tie Break Tens.
BSS/AFP/FI/1330hrs