Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray is returning to the Miami Open later this month after being awarded a wildcard into the main draw of the tournament on Monday.
The former world No.1 will be playing in only his third ATP Tour event of the season after Metz and Rotterdam where he lost in the first and second rounds respectively. Murray was absent from this year’s Australian Open after testing positive for COVID-19 which resulted in him missing the mandatory quarantine period for the Grand Slam. Instead, he started the year on the Challenger Tour with a run to the final of an event in Italy.
Murray’s focus is now on competing along with the best in the world following what has been a turbulent time. He has undergone two separate surgeries on his hip and was also troubled by pelvic problems last year.
“It’s a city I love, and I’ve spent a lot of time here over the last 15 years, I feel comfortable,” Murray told people.com about playing in Miami once again. “But over the next few months, I want to play matches — especially against the top players — work on my game and climb the rankings. I want to get back playing a sport I love.”
The 33-year-old is a two-time champion of the Masters 1000 event after winning the title in 2009 and 2013. He also reached the final in 2012 and 2015. Overall, he has won 28 out of 37 matches played in the tournament and earned more than $2.3 million in prize money so far in his career.
“It is exciting to see Andy back in Miami,” tournament director James Blake told The Miami Herald. “As someone who has had to battle back from injury during his career, I understand and respect all the hard work Andy has put in to get back on tour.”
Murray is currently ranked 118th in the world and is seeking to re-enter the top 100 for the first time since May 2018. He has won 46 ATP titles so far in his career and has held the No.1 ranking for 41 weeks.
Other wildcard recipients include 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who is one of the sports brightest prospects. The Spaniard won a trio of Challenger titles last year to become the second-youngest player in history to do so after Richard Gasquet. Former Wimbledon boys finalist Jack Draper has also been given a pass and will play in the main draw of an ATP Tour event for the first time in his career. America’s Michael Mmoh and France’s Hugo Gaston has also been recognized.
In the women’s tournament, Egyptian world No.121 Mayar Sherif will be making her debut in the event. She will be joined in the main draw by Anna Kalinskaya (RUS), Ana Konjuh (CRO), Storm Sanders (AUS), Katrina Scott (USA), Xiyu Wang (CHN) and Xinyu Wang (CHN).
The Miami Open will start on March 22nd.
