Andy Murray U-turns on clay absence, will return at Madrid Masters

Andy Murray will return to action at the Madrid Masters come the start of May, reversing his initial plans to train away from competition until the grass season. 

The former world number one last played at the end of March at the Miami Open, losing in the second round to world number two Daniil Medvedev.

He then began a long training block with newly reunited coach Ivan Lendl, with Murray hoping the Czech-American great could set him back on track before the grass season.

However, Murray will now cut that training block short as he feels ready to lace up his clay court shoes, having accepted a wildcard to play at the Madrid Masters beginning 1st May, the BBC reports.

Murray, a two-time champion from three finals in Madrid, has not played the event since 2017, when he was ranked world number one, but lost in the third round to Borna Coric.

As such, the 34-year-old has no rankings points to defend in Madrid, giving him an opportunity to build his ranking from his current position of 81st on the ATP tour.

Of Murray’s two titles in the Spanish capital one came on hard courts in 2008 and one on the clay in 2015, defeating none other than five-time champion Rafael Nadal in the final.

Since the tour returned from its Covid hiatus in August 2020, Andy Murray has played just one tour level singles match on clay, at Roland Garros in September that year, losing to Stan Wawrinka in the first round.

He did play two doubles matches alongside compatriot Liam Broady at the Roma Masters in 2021, but three matches have been the extent of the Brit’s competitive play on clay over the past 18 months.

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