Los Angeles (AFP)
Briton Andy Murray, double winner of the event in 2009 and 2013, will benefit from a wildcard (invitation) to participate in the Miami Open (22 March-4 April), the organizers of the first Masters 1000 announced on Monday. of the season.
"It's exciting to see Andy back in Miami," said James Blake, tournament director.
"As someone who has struggled to recover from injuries throughout their career, I understand and respect all of the hard work Andy put in to get back on the tour."
The former world No. 1, three-time Grand Slam winner (Wimbledon 2013, 2016, US Open 2012) has indeed seen his career severely disrupted since 2017 by injuries to a hip and groin leading to several operations.
His physical troubles even led him in early 2019 to consider retirement.
Finally still present on the circuit, the 33-year-old Scot has however played little (7 matches) during a year 2020 upset by the coronavirus pandemic, which he also contracted last January, then forced to withdraw from the Australian Open.
Murray remains on a loss in the round of 16 at the Rotterdam tournament, beaten by Russian Andrey Rublev on March 3.
Thereupon he gave up defending his chances at this week's Dubai tournament, after his wife gave birth to their fourth child.
The Frenchman Hugo Gaston is also part of the guest list directly entering the main draw.
Which will include 74 of the 77 best players in the world, including Novak Djokovic, winner of the last Australian Open, and Rafael Nadal, but not Roger Federer who resumed competition last week in Doha after 13 months of absence due to operations at the right knee and prefers to continue training for the clay court season.
Among the women, 72 of the 77 best players in the world are announced, including the Japanese Naomi Osaka, who has just triumphed in Melbourne, and Serena Williams.
© 2021 AFP