Injury-hit Murray pulls out from Aussie Open
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Former world No. 1 Andy Murray and Japan鈥檚 Kei Nishikori pulled out of the Australian Open yesterday as a host of top names battle to be fit for the year鈥檚 first grand slam.
Murray, 30, had failed to recover from a hip injury sustained last year and has not played since losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals last July, while Nishikori has been on the sidelines since August due to a torn tendon in his right wrist.
鈥淪adly I won鈥檛 be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete,鈥 the three-time grand slam champion Murray said. 鈥淚鈥檒l 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.鈥
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said he respected what was a 鈥渧ery hard decision for Andy.鈥
The loss of the Scot, who may now opt for surgery on his hip, came with injury clouds hanging over a who鈥檚 who of stars before the Open begins on January 15.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic remain huge doubts having yet to play a competitive match this year.
Nadal, the reigning French Open and US Open champion, pulled out of Brisbane at the weekend with a knee injury but said he still intends to play at Melbourne Park.
Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has not played since a right elbow issue forced him to quit Wimbledon in the quarterfinals.
He cancelled scheduled appearances in Abu Dhabi and Doha but intends to test the injury next week at two warm-up events in Melbourne before deciding whether to embark on a tilt at a record seventh Aussie title.
鈥淣ovak is travelling to Australia where he will take part in two exhibition tournaments,鈥 said a statement on 12-time grand slam winner鈥檚 website early yesterday.
鈥淎fter the two events, the decision will be made about his participation.鈥
Asian No. 1 Nishikori said his rehab had been 鈥済oing well but I am just not ready 100 percent to come back yet in best of five set matches.鈥
World No. 8 Jack Sock joined the growing injury list when he injured his hip at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Tuesday. Former champion Stan Wawrinka and Canada鈥檚 Milos Raonic are also returning from injuries.
On the women鈥檚 side of the draw there are question marks over the fitness of defending champion Serena Williams, who has not played competitively since giving birth four months ago. And British No. 1 Johanna Konta, a semifinalist in Melbourne two years ago, retired from her Brisbane quarterfinal with a right hip injury.
Earlier in the week, Wimbledon champion and world No. 2 Garbine Muguruza was forced to retire at Brisbane with leg cramps, though the Spaniard two-time grand slam winner accepted a wildcard to play in Sydney.
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