World No 1 Andy Murray will miss next week’s ATP Masters Series event in Cincinnati with a nagging hip injury that also forced him out of this week’s Montreal event.
The move brings into question Murray’s status for the US Open, which starts August 28 in New York, and even if he is able to play, it remains to be seen how well he can perform after missing the two major hard-court warm-up events for the Flushing Meadows fortnight.
“Unfortunately I won’t be playing in Cincinnati as I continue my recovery,” Murray said on Wednesday. “I always enjoy playing there and I look forward to returning next year.
“I’m continuing to work hard on the court with the aim of being in New York.”
Organisers tweet their disappointment
There's only one @andy_murray, and Cincinnati won't be the same without him. Wishing our two-time champion a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/BarLxLM9GI
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 9, 2017
The 30-year-old Scotsman, who has topped the rankings since last November, could be overtaken this week by French Open champion Rafael Nadal if the Spaniard reaches this week's Montreal semi-finals.
Also read:
Rafael Nadal: 'I don't even think about that [replacing Murray as No 1] now'
Graham Caygill: Federer and Nadal set to duel for No 1 spot for rest of 2017
[ Roger Federer plans to play on in tennis until the age of 40 ]
Nadal in training mode
Happy to have practiced at @rnadalacademy these days 😉👌 pic.twitter.com/psRawiZ1N7
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 3, 2017
Nadal will be the No 1 seed next week in Cincinnati no matter how he fares in Canada this week. It will be the first time since 2010 that Nadal, who won at Cincinnati in 2010, has been top seed there.
Wimbledon and Australian Open winner Roger Federer will be the second seed. He has won seven Cincinnati titles, including crowns in each of his past two appearances there in 2014 and 2015.
This marks the first year since 2009 that Nadal and Federer are the two top seeds in Cincinnati.
