Andy Murray to make Grand Slam return at 2020 Australian Open

Former world number one Andy Murray is set to make his Grand Slam return at the Australian Open in January after a year of undergoing a life-changing hip-surgery, the organisers announced on Tuesday (October 8).

Murray is slowly working his way back into the sport and enhancing his fitness in a visible growth in his ranking from 503 to 289 in a week.

The British three-time major winner, won his opening match at the Shanghai Masters on Monday (October 7), beating Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero in three sets.

Last week, the 32-year-old made a quarter-final appearance in China Open in Beijing.

With his confidence seemingly growing by the day, Australian Open organisers said the former world number one had committed to extending his comeback into the majors in January.

“Confirmed: Andy Murray will return to compete at the #AusOpen in 2020,” they tweeted.

Confirmed: @andy_murray will return to compete at the #AusOpen in 2020. pic.twitter.com/mbdFlAgOZA

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) October 7, 2019

The official Australian Open website said Murray “would return to the main draw with a protected ranking of number two and restored physical powers”.

Also read: Djokovic maintains top spot, Murray climbs 200 places in ATP rankings

The two-time Wimbledon champion has made the final five times at Melbourne Park, most recently in 2016, but is yet to lift the trophy.

Before this year’s tournament, Murray held an emotional press conference, announcing in tears that he would retire after Wimbledon because the pain in his hip had become too much to bear.

But he rediscovered his competitive spark after losing an epic five-setter to Roberto Bautista Agut, and opted instead to undergo hip resurfacing surgery and back himself to return to competitive tennis.

Australian Open organisers hope there will be another blast from the past if Belgium’s Kim Clijsters can meet her goal of taking to the court again in January after an absence of more than seven years.

A crowd favourite in Melbourne, the 36-year-old retired to have a family but made a surprise announcement last month that she was making a comeback in 2020.

Clijsters has won four Grand Slams, including the 2011 Australian Open.

(With inputs from agencies)