Former world No.1 Andy Murray has suffered a blip in his preparations for next month’s Australian Open due to an ongoing injury issue.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the three-time Grand Slam champion has been forced to pull the plug on his training block in Miami due to a groin injury he picked up during the Davis Cup Finals. Murray was set to spend two weeks in the city, where he owns a second house, alongside his team to prepare for the start of the new season. Initially, it was reported that the groin issue was just a minor setback in November. However, it is continuing to bother Murray.
“I had a bit of an issue with my groin, pelvis. I wanted to play but I wasn’t allowed to risk it.” He said on November 25th at The Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
“It was more like a bony bruise. It’s mild. But that was something which if I had played on it, it could have got worse. And that’s why it was difficult for me.” He added.
It is the latest injury woe for Murray after what has been a roller-coaster 2019 season. Back in January he contemplated retiring from the sport due to as persistent hip injury. However, his career was given a lifeline after he underwent hip resurfacing surgery shortly after. Returning back to the tour in June, he gradually found his footing on the court once again. His major breakthrough occurred at the European Open when he defeated Stan Wawrinka to win his first singles title of any sort since 2017.
“Asia was basically where I started to realise I can do this because at the beginning of that trip, literally two or three days before the first tournament in Asia, I was having conversations with my team.” Murray commented about his resurgence.
“I was practising and I was like ‘no, I am giving this until the end of the year and if I’m not winning matches and feeling better than I am now, I don’t want to keep going.’
“I was putting a lot of effort in but my movement wasn’t at the right level, but as I started to play quite a few matches it changed quite quickly and I thought I was a lot further away than I was and that was what a lot of guys in the team were saying to me.”
This season the 32-year-old has achieved an overall win-loss record of 11-7 on the tour. Besides his Antwerp title, he also reached the quarter-finals of the China Open. It was in China, where he recorded his highest-profile win in terms of ranking. Defeating world No.13 Matteo Berrettini.
Currently ranked 126th in the world, Murray remains on course with his plans for the new year. He will start 2020 at the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia, where he will be working alongside captain Tim Henman. Who he personally nominated for the position.
It is touch and go to see if Murray will gain direct entry into the Australian Open main draw due to his current ranking. However, the five-time finalist is a strong contender to receive a wildcard.
