Andy Murray has initiated the ultimate sequence of his profession by taking a wild card into the Geneva Open, a 250-point occasion which begins in slightly below a fortnight’s time.
The event introduced Murray’s entry this morning, soothing fears that his summer time may be torpedoed by the intense ankle harm which he suffered in Miami on March 24.
Though the Geneva subject options one top-ten participant in Casper Ruud, it is a low-key occasion by ATP Tour requirements. It takes place within the week earlier than the French Open, when most gamers favor to not exert themselves an excessive amount of.
For Murray, nevertheless, match follow can be a should after a two-month lay-off necessitated by the ligaments he ruptured whereas turning his ankle in Miami.
Murray wore a protecting boot on the joint for a few weeks, after which resumed coaching late final month as he constructed in the direction of these last few occasions.
He has already defined that he plans to complete his garlanded profession this summer time. Within the aftermath of the match in opposition to Tomas Machac, he mentioned that “I’m wanting ahead to the top now, give my finest the following few months and get to be at residence with my household.”
Like most British gamers – who develop up coaching on quick indoor courts – Murray has by no means been notably enamoured of clay as a floor, and his anticipated go to to Paris for the French Open feels extra like a gesture of farewell than a severe tilt on the title.
But his expertise is such that he reached the ultimate there in 2016, defeating defending champion Stan Wawrinka within the semi-finals earlier than happening to Novak Djokovic in 4 units.
Even at this late stage of his profession, Murray will nonetheless really feel that he may be aggressive on grass – his favorite floor – so long as his ankle is ready to deal with the slickness of the courts at Queen’s and Wimbledon.
However Wimbledon might not be the ultimate cease for Murray, as he loves the Olympic Video games and is the one singles participant to defend an Olympic title.
It was reported final week that Murray hopes to enter the Olympic doubles event – which, just like the French Open, can be staged on the clay of Roland Garros in south-west Paris – with Joe Salisbury.
Murray might also look to play the French Open doubles together with his previous pal Dan Evans – though that is prone to show difficult as each males’s rankings have dropped exterior the world’s prime 50 in current weeks. They may find yourself needing a wild card from the French Tennis Federation, which can or might not be forthcoming.
