Andy Murray Withdraws from Western and Southern Open Due to Abdominal Strain
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray has been forced to withdraw from the Western and Southern Open due to an abdominal strain, according to the ATP. Murray, who recently withdrew from a match in Toronto because of the same issue, has been advised not to play against 11th seed Karen Khachanov. Instead, a lucky loser will replace him in the drawing.
Speaking about his injury, Murray said, I had a very similar issue last year in the tournament in Stuttgart before Wimbledon which forced me to miss the Queen’s Club tournament. It took me about 10 to 12 days before I was feeling good again. This is not as bad as that, but obviously the danger if you compete and play on it is you make it worse. So, I’ll need to see how it develops over the coming days and hopefully feel better in a few days. I’m really sorry. Thank you.
The 36-year-old athlete demonstrated his fighting spirit by defeating Max Purcell in the second round of the Toronto event after a grueling two-hour and 47-minute battle. Despite his determination, Murray is not yet ready to compete in Cincinnati.
Murray, currently ranked No. 36 in the ATP Rankings, will be greatly missed at the Western and Southern Open. His absence presents a fortunate opportunity for another player to fill the void left by the renowned champion.
On the other hand, Khachanov, who has not competed since his loss to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 French Open quarterfinals, has been struggling with a groin injury. Given this setback, he will now face a fortunate loser instead of the anticipated match against Murray.
The Western and Southern Open will undoubtedly be an exciting event filled with fierce competition. However, fans will have to wait a little longer to witness Murray’s remarkable talent on the court. We wish him a speedy recovery, and we hope to see him back in action soon.
In the meantime, Karen Khachanov will need to regroup and prepare for his upcoming match. It will be interesting to see how he performs after his time away from the game. Will he come back stronger than ever, or will the break have affected his form? Tennis enthusiasts world over will be keeping a close eye on his performance in the Western and Southern Open.
As the tournament progresses, spectators will be treated to captivating matches, breathtaking displays of skill, and nail-biting moments. The absence of Andy Murray will certainly be felt, but it also opens doors for emerging talents to make a mark on the competition.
