Andy Murray ‘gutted’ as he shelves plans to play at Australian Open

Andy Murray will miss the Australian Open having failed to find a “workable quarantine” after he recovered from coronavirus.

Andy Murray will not be playing in the Australian Open.

The former world number one is out of self-isolation but could not find a solution to the logistical challenge of getting to Australia and then quarantining ahead of the grand slam which starts on February 8.

Murray said: “Gutted to share that I won’t be flying out to Australia to compete at the Australian Open.

“We’ve been in constant dialogue with Tennis Australia to try and find a solution which would allow some form of workable quarantine, but we couldn’t make it work.

“I want to thank everyone there for their efforts, I’m devastated not to be playing out in Australia. It’s a country and tournament that I love.”

It is another blow for Murray’s hopes of returning to the top of the men’s game after injury severely hampered his 2020 campaign.

The Scot, a five-time runner-up in Melbourne, was unable to travel on one of the charter flights laid on by tournament organisers after recording a positive test.

Murray, who was asymptomatic, had hoped to arrive in Melbourne at a later date, but could not come to an agreement over quarantine, despite constructive talks with tournament director Craig Tiley.

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