29th December, 2019
Andy Murray will be missing in action at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam in January 2020. He will also not be able to play for Great Britain at the ATP Cup in Sydney starting on January 3.
The 32 year-old Scot said he felt “gutted” to be sidelined due to pelvic injury.
He suffered the injury playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup last month and Murray said Saturday: “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 (Australian Open) 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 had hoped to make his return to Grand Slam action in Melbourne in January following a hip operation.
But concerns over his fitness were raised when he cancelled as scheduled block of training in Miami.
As a result he won’t be back at Melbourne Park, the scene of an emotional press conference last year where he suggested he might retire as a result of his hip injury.
Despite being less than fully fit Murray then took part in a gruelling five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut.
A fortnight later double Olympic gold medallist Murray, twice a Wimbledon champion and the winner of the 2012 US Open singles, had hip resurfacing surgery and started his return to action at the Queen’s Club grass-court event in London in June.
October saw Murray win the European open in Antwerp, a victory that suggested he could still contend for major honours.