“Retirement” did not last long for Andy Murray.
Murray, who announced at the Australian Open that he planned to retire sometime this summer, will take his comeback from doubles to singles at the upcoming Western & Southern Open. The 32-year-old Scot announced via Facebook on Friday that he accepted a wild card for the Masters 1000 event that begins this Sunday.
“That feeling when you accept a wildcard for the singles in Cinci…#LetsDoThis #HereWeGo,” he posted.
Murray last played singles when he lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in a grueling five-setter during first-round Aussie Open action. After undergoing hip resurfacing surgery that he feared might be career-ending, the former world No. 1 felt good enough to return in doubles two months ago at Queen’s Club. A fairy tale week saw Murray and Feliciano Lopez capture the doubles title, and Lopez also triumphed in singles.
Murray also played doubles at Wimbledon (including mixed with Serena Williams), in Washington, D.C., and at this week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal. He will decide on his singles status for the U.S. Open after competing in Cincinnati.
The three-time Grand Slam champion’s opener will come against familiar foe Richard Gasquet, who trails the head-to-head series 8-3.
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here we go!
Gasquet not great for a first time match after so long away? Good luck, Andy!
Rafa’s still in the Cincy draw? What happens if he pulls out? Roger’s in Djoker’s half…
Gasquet is kind of a tough 1st match back for Murray, but it’s usually not easy in a Masters.
Welcome back Andy. I hope he will win at least one more slam before retiring for good.
Very difficult, even if he could outlast the big three, he himself will grow old too, and players like Tsitsipas, FAA, Sasha and Medvedev may then reach their prime or peak to give him a hard time.
Murray is not that formidable the likes of the big three, he plays a physically exhausting game and he lacks the power to finish off points quickly, unlike the big three.
Totally agree. Murray’s chances of winning another slam are slim to none, even if he manages to play himself into a semblance of his old self. He has to compete with the still dominating Big Three as well as with the hungry young guns, and he has to battle with his aging body, too. Winning a slam is too much to ask.
That said, I don’t exclude that he might eventually regain enough of his old prowess for making it deep into draws now and then and enrich the current scene. He certainly has the will power and discipline.
But hip problems are notoriously difficult to overcome. One of my all-time favorites – Guga Kürten – never managed to regain a semblance of his former self after undergoing hip surgery, although he was only in his late twenties. Maybe, Murray can become a force in doubles, though. We have to wait and see. This season is probably too early to tell. His body has to cooperate in the first place. Mostly I hope that he will have fun!