Five-time runner-up Andy Murray takes Australian Open wild card

As was expected, the three-time Major champion Andy Murray received the Australian Open wild card, ready to compete at the first Major of the season from February 8. Andy is a five-time Melbourne runner-up, losing those finals between 2010-16 to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Andy made the Australian Open debut in 2006, competing down under 13 times and hoping for another good run in a month and a half, seeking the first Australian Open victory since 2017. Before Melbourne, Murray will play at the Delray Beach Open in January, asking for a wild card following two triumphs at the Battle of the Brits in Roehampton. In Florida, Andy will battle against Milos Raonic, Cristian Garin, John Isner, Daniel Evans, Hubert Hurkacz, Reilly Opelka, Kei Nishikori and Sam Querrey, hoping for a strong start of the season after leaving injuries behind. The 33-year-old Glasgow native played only seven matches in 2020, missing the opening months due to a pelvic injury and not finding his A-game after Cincinnati.

Murray is currently ranked 122nd after failing to make progress through the ATP list in the previous 12 months, lifting the trophy at the ATP 250 event in Antwerp in October 2019 - his first since Dubai 2017 - moving closer to the top-100 group but experiencing another injury a few weeks later in Madrid. Missing January and February, Andy received the Cincinnati wild card in August for a late start of the season, scoring significant wins over Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev - the German served for the win at 5-4 in the decider - before hitting an exit door versus Milos Raonic. At the US Open, Andy produced one of his well-known remarkable comebacks against Yoshihito Nishioka from two sets to love down, saving a match point and earning his last victory of the season.

Andy Murray will compete at the first Major of the season at the Australian Open.

Murray experienced early losses at Roland Garros to Stan Wawrinka and Fernando Verdasco in Cologne to wrap up the official season, working on the practice court in recent weeks and looking good in the last test encounters of the year before taking the Delray Beach trip. Murray claimed nine ATP titles in 2016 to wrap up the year as the year-end no. 1 player ahead of Novak Djokovic, struggling with a hip injury in the upcoming years and never finding that form again. His last Australian Open match came in the first round against Roberto Bautista Agut in 2019, leaving everything on the court and still falling 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2. After that clash, Andy was unsure about his career, struggling with a hip injury but finding the will and desire to return and play competitive tennis again. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2X139Up