"I don't want to take that risk": Andy Murray to opt out of European clay-court swing in 2022
“The past couple of years, the clay has made issues worse,” the 34-year-old said Sunday in Rotterdam.
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With an eye on the long game, the spring clay-court swing will not be a fixture of Andy Murray’s 2022 season.
Speaking in Rotterdam Sunday, the 34-year-old explained how playing on red dirt these days is not a suitable fit for his situation.
“Right now, I am not planning on playing through the clay. The past couple of years, the clay has made issues worse,” he said. “Last year I had some issues at the beginning of the year. The clay didn’t help, so I’ve spoken to my team about that and this year, while I feel good and healthy, I don’t want to take that risk.”
Since having his right hip resurfaced in January 2019, Murray has made just one appearance on clay, and it wasn’t a pretty one. At the 2020 French Open, the former world No. 1 won just six games in a blowout loss to 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.
The Swiss has agreed to let Murray work with his coach, Dani Vallverdu, in the interim while he continues rehabbing from a foot injury. Wawrinka has been off the tour since March 9, 2021 when he lost to Lloyd Harris in Doha, but Murray knows he's on the clock to identify a permanent solution.
“It’s not that straightforward, I’m not as in demand as a few years ago,” Murray said. “Ultimately, I want it to be the right person. I’m aware there’s no perfect setup, but medium, longer term I want some stability and will try and get that in the next few weeks.”
Murray added that a return to clay in future years isn’t off the table and that he “won’t do nothing” when his peers are competing across Europe on the surface.
The three-time major title holder received a wild card into Rotterdam, where he triumphed in 2009. Murray opens his campaign against Alexander Bublik, who defeated Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s Montpellier final to collect his first ATP title.