Andy Murray withdraws from Roland Garros, will return on grass

Andy Murray will not compete at this year’s Roland Garros after all and will instead return to his plan of sitting out the rest of the clay in favour of returning on the grass. 

The move comes after the former world number one U-turned on his initial decision to miss the clay season entirely in favour of returning at the Madrid Open earlier this month.

After receiving a wildcard there Murray defeated 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem and top 20 pro Denis Shapovalov to set a first meeting with Novak Djokovic since 2017 before withdrawing due to illness caused by food poisoning.

The 35-year-old has not played at Roland Garros since the Covid-postponed 2020 edition, losing to 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round there.

While Murray has confirmed that he will next compete on the grass, exactly where is still up in the air.

After announcing their ban on Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Championships, possibility of Wimbledon and LTA events in the UK losing ATP and WTA ranking points is still on the table.

As such, players may gain no ranking points from playing events like Queen’s, Eastbourne, Nottingham and Birmingham.

Earlier this year, Murray hinted that he could return at an ATP Challenger in Surbiton, which runs simultaneously with the secon dweek of Roland Garros, before possibly playing Stuttgart from 6th June.

However, should ranking points be taken away from British events, the world number 69 may opt to avoid those pre-Wimbledon tournaments altogether in order to build his standing on the ATP ladder.

 

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