Andy Murray has pulled out of the season-opening Delray Beach Open in Florida next week due to COVID-19 concerns ahead of the Australian Open, which is scheduled to begin on Febraury 8.
Murray, who missed most of the 2020 season due to pelvic injury and his hip problem and struggled for form on his comeback in August, had accepted a wildcard for the ATP 250 tournament, from January 5-12, last week.
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The tournament serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“After much deliberation with my team I’ve decided not to travel to play in Delray Beach,” Murray, 33, said on Thursday.
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“Given the increase in COVID rates and the transatlantic flights involved, I want to minimise the risks ahead of the Australian Open.”
Murray, a former world number one and three-times Grand Slam champion, underwent hip resurfacing surgery in January last year and has slipped to 122nd in the rankings after playing only seven matches this year.
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