Injury forces Andy Murray out of Australian Open

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Australian Open after failing to recover from a hip injury,

The British number one has not played a competitive match since the Wimbledon quarter-final defeat to Sam Querrey last June.

Murray has now slipped to 16th in the world rankings and pulled out of the US Open in August.

“Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete,” said Murray.

“I appreciate all the messages of support and I hope to be back playing soon.”

The 30-year-old appeared in a one-set exhibition match against Roberto Bautista Agut last week but pulled out of his Brisbane International first-round match against American Ryan Harrison on Tuesday.

Cover Photo: Andy Murray by Nick Webb under license by CC BY 2.0.