Andy Murray’s preparation for the final Grand Slam of the season has suffered a fresh blow after he was forced to withdraw from this week’s Western and Southern Open.
The former world No.1 isn’t playing in the Masters 1000 event due to an abdominal issue which also forced him to withdraw from his third round match against Jannik Sinner in Toronto last week. Murray is tantalizingly close to being seeded at the US Open which will begin later this month. He is currently ranked 36th in the world.
“I had a very similar issue last year in the tournament in Stuttgart before Wimbledon which forced me to miss the Queen’s Club tournament and I was able to play Wimbledon. It took me about 10 to 12 days before I was feeling good again,” Murray said after pulling out of his match against Sinner.
“This is not as bad as that, but obviously the danger if you compete and play on it is you make it worse. So, I’ll need to see how it develops over the coming days and hopefully feel better in a few days.”
Murray is yet to provide any further comment on his current physical condition so it is unknown how his recovery is progressing. The setback comes during what has been a roller-coaster season. He has won three titles on the lower-level Challenger tour and was runner-up at a 250 event in Doha. On the other hand, he has lost his opening match at seven tournaments.
Earlier this week, the 36-year-old was named in Great Britain’s Davis Cup squad for the finals of the group stage which will be held in Manchester between September 12-17. The team will play Australia, France and Switzerland.
Svitolina suffering from a foot problem
Another player facing a race against time to be fit for the US Open is Elina Svitolina who has withdrawn from Cincinnati following a medical scan on her foot. The world No.26 didn’t go into details about the problem she is currently experiencing but has been advised to rest.
“Unfortunately I have been experiencing some foot pain since Wimbledon and I was advised to have a scan after Montreal which has shown some issues that need addressing and resting, so I am unable to play in Cincinnati this year,” Svitolina wrote in a post on social media.
“I am really disappointed to pull out anywhere but I love the fans in Cincy and love playing in front of them which makes it extra hard but I have to take the medical advice I have been given. I will do my best to rest and recover in time for the US Open now.”
Svitolina returned to the Tour earlier this year after giving birth to her first child. She won the Strasbourg Open in May before reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon. The Ukrainian is coached by Raemon Slutier who previously worked alongside Kiki Bertens.
This year’s US Open will begin on August 28th.