Andy Murray to take step back like Roger Federer in bid to help career

I’m out | A downbeat Andy Murray reveals he will miss Wimbledon
REUTERS

Andy Murray will follow in the footsteps of Roger Federer and cut down on the number of tournaments he plays in a bid to prolong his career.

Federer missed the entire clay-court season to prepare the defence of his Wimbledon crown against Dusan Lajovic on Centre Court today.

And, at the age of 36, he is the favourite to win the title having bounced back from his own injury problems.

In contrast, Murray will miss a third straight Grand Slam as he battles to regain full fitness from his hip injury.

Now he and his team have gone back to the drawing board in order to ensure his fitness for the American hard-court season, climaxing with September’s US Open.

While the finer details of his schedule have not been decided upon, Standard Sport understands Murray will look to curtail his playing commitments for the remainder of 2018 and into 2019.

Murray said: “I think I will make changes to my schedule and things to try and look after my body better. I will be working hard but not killing my body in training blocks either. Providing I am smart, I believe I’ll be able to compete.”

Murray, who had entered the Wimbledon draw only to pull out on the eve of the tournament, will relocate to Miami for such preparations.

His approach is in stark contrast to 2016 when he chased points in his quest to reel in Novak Djokovic at No1, an approach he is unlikely to repeat.

The 31-year-old’s late withdrawal raised more question marks about his future but his mother, Judy, today insisted he would get back to the top.

“I think he’s got unfinished business,” she said. “If somebody tells him he can’t do something, he’ll go out of his way to prove you wrong.”

Having the home favourite missing for the first time since 2007 is a big blow to the All England Club. Wimbledon CEO Richard Lewis said: “I hope in a year from now it proves to be a great decision and he is back top of the rankings and playing superb tennis. I feel for him but I am sure he will be the first to say we still have lots of star players to watch.”

Murray has played just three matches in a year now since hobbling out of the quarter-finals of Wimbledon against Sam Querrey last summer.

His stuttering comeback included a win over Stan Wawrinka at Eastbourne last week but defeats to Nick Kyrgios and Kyle Edmund at Queen’s and Eastbourne respectively.

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