Murray gets invitation to Miami tournament

Britain's Andy Murray, a two-time winner of the event in 2009 and 2013, will receive a wildcard (invitation) to play in the Miami Open (March 22-April 4), the organisers of the first Masters 1000 of the season announced on Monday.

"It's exciting to have Andy back in Miami," said James Blake, tournament director. "As someone who has struggled to recover from injuries throughout his career, I understand and respect all the hard work Andy has put in to get back on 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 that have led to several operations. His physical problems even led him to consider retirement in early 2019.

Finally still present on the circuit, the 33-year-old Scot has however played little (7 matches) during a year 2020 thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic, which he contracted last January, forced to withdraw for the Australian Open.

Murray is coming off a defeat in the round of 16 at the Rotterdam tournament, beaten by Russian Andrey Rublev on 3 March. He then withdrew from this week's tournament in Dubai after his wife gave birth to their fourth child.

Frenchman Hugo Gaston is also on the list of invitees going straight into the main draw. The main draw will feature 74 of the world's top 77 players, including Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, but not Roger Federer, who returned to action last week in Doha after a 13-month absence due to surgery on his right knee and prefers to continue training for the clay court season.

In the women's draw, 72 of the world's top 77 players are announced, including Japan's Naomi Osaka, fresh from her triumph in Melbourne, and Serena Williams.