World No. 1 Andy Murray will be spending the entire month of January in Australia for the next three years after reaching an agreement with the Brisbane International.
The Brisbane International has secured Murray's services for the next three years. The Scot is now set to make his third-ever appearance at the Brisbane event. The 30 year old is still undefeated in Brisbane, having won it all at the tournament in 2012 and 2013.
There is a good chance that Brisbane will be Murray's first tournament in months. The Scot has been sidelined by a hip injury since Wimbledon, which was held in July.
Murray announced on social media on Tuesday that he is out of the upcoming Beijing's China Open and Shanghai Masters. The Scot also said that he is "unlikely" to play the Vienna Open and Paris Masters. Should he pull out of Vienna and Paris as well, his season would be officially over.
"I need to take some time to rest my body and I look forward to playing the Brisbane International in January," Murray said, per his website.
Murray wants to prepare well for Melbourne
Murray is "confident" the Brisbane International will serve him as a good preparation for the Australian Open. The Brisbane event is set to be held in the opening week of the 2017 tennis season — two weeks before the opening Grand Slam of the season starts.
Murray will be hoping to get some matches under his belt before he hits the practice courts in the following week. The Scot could get a real test early on in the season as the tournament won't be lacking big names. Spain's Rafa Nadal has been previously announced to be playing for the second straight year in Brisbane.
"Starting the year in Australia sets you up in the best possible way for a strong season and I’m excited to start my next three there," Murray explained.
"I love coming to Australia and the Brisbane tournament always has a strong field. I’m confident it will help me prepare for the Australian Open."
Analysis
Murray's big goal must be to win an Australian Open title before he retires. The Scot, a two-time Wimbledon and once US Open champion, would complete a Career Grand Slam if he wins it all in Melbourne and the French Open.
Murray has without any doubt been one of the best and most consistent players at the Australian Open in the last couple of years. But, surprisingly and disappointingly, the Scot has yet to make it all the way in Melbourne. He has finished as a runner-up five times at the tournament so far.
Arguably, Murray had his best chance to claim the glory at this year's Australian Open edition. Novak Djokovic — the player who defeated Murray in four Australian Open finals since 2011 — shockingly lost to Denis Istomin in round three of the event. Many thought that was just what Murray needed as he just couldn't find the way to beat Djokovic in Melbourne. Those hopes were lived, as top-seed Murray fell short to unseeded Mischa Zverev in the last -16.
However, Murray remains eager to find a way to conquer the Australian Open. Murray opened the 2016 season in Doha, where he lost the final to Djokovic in Week 1. Murray will now have spent at least two weeks in Australia before the opening Grand Slam kicks off.
In 2012 and 2013 — the years when Murray opened the season at the Brisbane International — he went on to lose in the semi-finals and finals of the Australian Open, respectively.
