Andy Murray: Former world No 1 to make singles return at Cincinnati Masters

Seven months have passed since the Scot's tearful revelation in Australia that his career could be over due to a serious hip injury

Former world No 1 Andy Murray will make his singles return at the Cincinnati Masters next week after being drawn in the first round against Richard Gasquet.

The news, which was announced by the Scot on his Facebook page, comes seven months after his tearful revelation in Australia that his career could be over and six months on from his second hip operation.

Murray began his comeback in June by playing doubles in the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club and has continued to compete in the less-demanding format, most recently in this week’s Rogers Cup in Canada.

Alongside an image of himself at the Citi Open, Murray posted on Facebook: “That feeling when you accept a wildcard for the singles in Cinci... #LetsDoThis #HereWeGo.”

Ahead of the Washington tournament, where he competed with his brother Jamie, Murray said of his return to singles action: ”I’m closer than maybe what I thought I was.”

He added: “Best-case scenario probably would be Cincinnati. And then if I wasn’t able to play in Cincinnati, there’s a good chance I would probably wait until after New York, because I wouldn’t want my first tournament, either, to be playing best-of-five.”

The Scot also returned to Wimbledon this summer, where he lined up alongside Serena Williams in the mixed doubles.

The pair reached the third round of the competition before losing in three sets against top seeds Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar.

Murray’s last singles appearance was on the hard courts of Melbourne, where he was dispatched in the first round of the Australian Open by quarter-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets.