Andy Murray to make playing comeback against Mackenzie McDonald at next week’s Washington Open
Former world No1 will play first match since withdrawing from Wimbledon as he aims to step up fitness levels before US Open
FORMER world No1 Andy Murray will make his competitive return at next week’s Washington Open.
Murray, 31, has been drawn to face American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the competition, which gets underway on Monday.
That match will be his first since withdrawing on the eve of this year’s Wimbledon, when he admitted his fitness was not at the required level.
The three-time Grand Slam winner has been dogged by a hip injury for over a year, missing the 2017 US Open and 2018 Australian Open before going under the knife in January.
Glimpses of Murray on a tennis court this year have been rare with the Brit only playing three matches – all on grass in June – and tumbling down to 838th in the world rankings.
He admitted it was "too soon" to play five-set matches when pulling out of Wimbledon, with the focus instead on building his fitness ahead of the US Open which gets underway on August 27.
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The 2012 champion has also been handed a wild card to compete at the Cincinnati Open next month.
First up though will be the Washington Open where he will play fellow Brit Kyle Edmund should be beat world No77 McDonald to reach the second round.
Current British No1 Edmund has stepped up in Murray’s absence, rising to 16th in the world rankings and reaching the semi-final of this year’s Australian Open.
He is seeded fourth for next week’s competition behind top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany.