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Top-seeded tennis star Andy Murray has reversed his decision to skip the entire clay-court season and will now participate at the Madrid Open in early May after being given wildcard entry for the tournament.
The Australian Open is giving the former world No. 1 a main draw wild card, bringing him back to the event for the 14th time.
Murray's last Australian Open appearance was in 2019 when Roberto Bautista Agust outplayed him in the 1st round. The 34-year-old suffered a lingering hip injury, which he thought would end his career.
"If it was my last match, it was an amazing way to end," said Murray post-match. Murray, a two-time champion, had not played the event since 2017 when he was at the helm of rankings but lost in the third round to Borna Coric.
The former world number one last played at the Miami Open in March 2021 where he lost in the second round to Daniil Medvedev.
The 34-year-old has no rankings points to defend in Madrid, allowing him an opportunity to build his rankings from his current position of 81st on the ATP tour. Murray's two titles in the Spanish capital came on hard courts in 2008 and one on the clay in 2015, defeating none other than five-time champion Rafael Nadal in the final.
Since the tour returned from the COVID hiatus in August 2020, Andy Murray has played just one tour-level singles match on clay.