Andy Murray “out for an extended period” after Miami ankle injury shows full rupture of AFTL
The three-time major winner vows, "I’ll be back with one hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right.”
On Sunday, Andy Murray injured his left ankle while battling Tomas Machac in a third set at the Miami Open. The Brit valiantly carried on, before losing, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5), in cruel fashion to Machac after leading their decisive tiebreak, 5-3.
A day later, Murray’s heartbreak only intensified when the three-time major winner revealed the full extent of the damage to his foot.
“Yesterday towards the end of my match in Miami, I suffered a full rupture of my ATFL and near full thickness rupture of my CFL. I will see an ankle specialist when I return home to determine next steps,” Murray wrote on Instagram.
“Goes without saying this is a tough one to take and I’ll be out for an extended period.”
Murray, a wild card, had trailed world No. 60 Machac 2-5 in their decider. Gifted a double fault to get back on serve, the moment of disaster struck minutes later.
Coming in off a forehand at 4-5, 40-15, Murray pulled up on his ankle after split stepping, hobblling with a painful scream as the Czech's reply found the net. The scene gave shades of what Tommy Paul experienced a day earlier, when he was forced to stop after rolling his left ankle against Martin Damm.
Murray had the ankle taped and kept playing, later saving a match point en route to forcing the tiebreak.
For years, Murray has been widely celebrated for his sheer willpower to overcome obstacles. Speaking on Tennis Channel Live on Sunday night, Andy Roddick praised the fight inside his former rival: “The guts of him has been the same."
It’s been just over five years since the former world No. 1 underwent a radical hip resurfacing that very well could have ended his career. The 36-year-old had hinted that 2024 would likely be his final season, later growing tired of media questions surrounding the subject at Indian Wells.
“I feel like no one is listening to me. I'm planning on finishing in the summer.”
With this latest setback, Murray’s plans just might change. The two-time Olympic gold medalist asserted that he'll "be back with one hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right.”
If history is anything to go by, Murray won't let a brutal chapter like this be the final one he writes on court.