World No.2 Andy Murray has been forced out of the US Open with a hip injury. The thirty year-old had been struggling through much of the year with the injury.
Murray announced his withdrawal with a statement: “I was actually practising OK the last few days, but it’s too sore for me to win the tournament and ultimately that’s what I was here to try and do. I ran out of time.”
Murray’s hip injury is one that has troubled him throughout his career, though he has been able to manage it effectively most of the time. The injury has however caused more pain across 2017 especially, and the World No.2 decided that he could not compete in the rigorous setting of a grand slam that could cause the injury to worsen.
Murray’s withdrawal is just the latest to hit the men’s draw in the US Open. Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic announced that he would not play again in 2017 after his Wimbledon defeat. Defending champion Stan Wawrinka has also been forced to end his season through injury. Kei Nishikori tore a muscle in his arm in training and has been forced out again for the rest of the year. Finally, Canada’s Milos Raonic was forced to pull out last week with a wrist injury.
Murray’s position in the draw will be taken by a lucky loser from the qualifying competition. Murray’s withdrawal after the draw has taken place means that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will remain in the top half of the draw together instead seeing Federer upgraded to the second seeding position, which would have been the case had Murray pulled out before the draw was made.
Murray’s withdrawal essentially clears the field for fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who has the highest seed left in the bottom half of the draw, will be expected to make the final according to his seeding. More immediate beneficiaries of Murray’s injury enforced absence include Diego Schwartzmann, who could have met Murray in the third round, David Ferrer, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, whom Murray was seeded to meet in the quarter-finals.
