Andy Murray takes wild card spot at Shanghai Masters as singles comeback continues

Former world No 1 has added another Asian tournament to his upcoming schedule

Andy Murray in action at the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre (PA)

Andy Murray has taken a wild card spot at next month’s Shanghai Masters, tournament organisers have announced.

The former world No 1 is stepping up his singles comeback following hip surgery in January and will next play at the Zhuhai Championships, which begin on September 23.

He will then play in the China Open the following week and has now committed to a third week of action in a row at Asia’s only Masters event.

Murray is a three-time winner in Shanghai and holds the record of the tournament’s youngest champion, having beaten Roger Federer in 2010. He also lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2016, the latter marking his most recent appearance at the tournament.

The 32-year-old said: “I’m really looking forward to be going back to Shanghai, a tournament I have had success at in the past.

“Thanks to the tournament for a wild card, it’s great to be able to continue my comeback and play more tennis in China.

“Shanghai is a great city, I feel comfortable there and the fans are always supportive.”

Having initially made his comeback in doubles at Queen’s Club – where he won the title with Feliciano Lopez in June – Murray played his first singles match since January’s hip resurfacing surgery last month, losing in the first round in Cincinnati.

The three-time Grand Slam champion also lost in the first round in Winston-Salem before earning his first two singles wins of the year when he dropped down to Challenger level in Mallorca.

Murray has also signed up for the European Open in Antwerp the week after Shanghai.