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Andy Murray still a long way short of full fitness as he limps to defeat against Roberto Bautista Agut

Murray stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Novak Djokovic at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, but lost 6-2 in a one-set exhibition match

Luke Brown
Friday 29 December 2017 19:16 GMT
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Andy Murray hopes to enter the Australian Open in two weeks' time
Andy Murray hopes to enter the Australian Open in two weeks' time

Andy Murray has admitted that he remains a long way short of reaching full fitness after he lost a one-set exhibition match to Roberto Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi, after stepping in as a late replacement for the injured Novak Djokovic.

Murray volunteered at the last minute to replace Djokovic at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, after the Serb was forced to withdrawn having experienced further pain in his elbow. Djokovic later admitted that his participation at the Australian Open is now in doubt.

Like Djokovic, Murray last played a competitive match at the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July and the Scot volunteered to play Bautista Agut when news of Djokovic’s withdrawal broke. The Scot had initially flown out to the emirate intending only to make use of the practice courts, as he continues to prepare for his competitive return following a longstanding hip injury.

The news that Murray would be replacing Djokovic appeared to suggest his comeback was progressing well, but he was a long way short of his best against the Spaniard and struggled with his movement during the 6-2 defeat.

The limp that characterised his troubled Wimbledon campaign was on full display and his movement was particularly hampered when dragged out wide on his forehand side by Bautista Agut, who is ranked four places below Murray at 20th in the ATP world rankings.

Bautista Agut raced into a 4-0 lead although Murray defended game points for 5-0 and then prevailed in a closely-fought 12-minute service game, during which he saved three match points at 1-5. He lost the next game, but commented in an on-court interview after his defeat that he was encouraged by his performance in the closing stages.

“I felt better as it went along and obviously I was a bit slow at the start,” he said.

Murray struggled when dragged out wide on his forehand side

“Roberto is one of the best players in the world and when you haven't competed for a long while it takes time to get back up to that pace.

“I started to feel a bit better towards the end, but I'll need to keep improving for sure.”

Murray must now decide whether to enter next week’s Brisbane International as he continues to build up his fitness ahead of the Australian Open, which starts in just over two weeks’ time. Murray has never won in Melbourne, although he has finished runner-up on five occasions.

Djokovic’s participation at the first Grand Slam of the season is also in doubt after the former world number one suffered a recurrence of the elbow injury that scuppered the second-half of his 2017 campaign.

And, in a statement published on his official website, the 12-time Grand Slam winner admitted that the longstanding injury “might affect the start of the season”.

“I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” Djokovic wrote.

Murray stepped in as a replacement for Djokovic (top)

“Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything, to withdraw from the tournament and to immediately continue with the therapies.

“I am very sad because I was eager to return to playing official matches. I enjoyed the practices and everything I did to get ready for the start of the season, including the tournament in Abu Dhabi, where I always enjoy playing.

“Now I need to accept this situation, and to wait for the results of the therapies, in order to start playing tennis again and getting back to full rhythm.

“This might affect the start of the season and the tournament plan, but the decision will be made in the following days.”

Federer is the bookmakers' favourite to win the 2018 Australian Open

Roger Federer is the bookmakers’ favourite to defend his Australian Open crown, given the well-documented injury struggles of his main rivals. Like Murray and Djokovic, current World No 1 Rafa Nadal was forced to withdraw from the Mubadala Championship and will also be absent from the Brisbane International as he continues to nurse a knee injury.

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