Former world No. 1 Andy Murray won't be playing at the Miami Masters for the second straight year. The Scotsman has yet to play a tournament since 2017 July and Wimbledon due to a hip injury. The 30-year-old tried to fully heal his injury by resting and rehabbing but it didn't work out. Murray, who was exploring every solution in order to avoid a Hip Surgery, eventually had no other escape to undergo a hip surgery this past January. The Scot is targeting to return during the grass season in June.
Murray was once regular in Miami
Murray debuted at the Miami Masters twelve years ago in 2006.
Back then, a promising Murray lost in the first round to Swiss Stan Wawrinka. Murray then became a regular participant at the Miami event as he played at the tournament regularly until last year. The Scotsman pulled out of last year's Miami edition due to an elbow injury. It was the first time in over a decade that Murray wasn't featuring the second Masters 1000 tournament of the season.
Miami is a happy hunting ground for Murray
Murray knows very well how it feels to taste success at the Miami Masters. The 30-year-old made the semi-finals in his second appearance in 2007 - - where he lost to Serb Novak Djokovic. The Scotsman then made it all the way in Miami in 2009 when he beat Djokovic in the final and in 2013 when he defeated Spaniard David Ferrer in the final, respectively.
Murray also ended runner-up in Miami twice - - when he was defeated by Djokovic in the 2012 and 2015 Miami finals. In his last appearance at the tournament, Murray was defeated by Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov in the 2016 third-round.
The drama, the joy, the history...
Murray has without any doubt been one of the biggest attractions at the Miami Masters in the last decade.
The 30-year-old has been producing some high-level tennis and earning some big and tough wins in Miami. Murray won his last Miami title in a memorable way as he overcame Ferrer in a thrilling, dramatic, nerve-wracking final 2-6 6-4 7-6 (1). The final had it all and has been without any doubt one of the greatest finals in the history of the tournament.
Weird and odd without Murray
Murray's goal is to get fully healthy as he is eager to prolong his career and add more success to his name before he calls it a career. A healthy Murray would still get a couple of more shots at winning it all in Miami. It remains to be seen will the three-time Grand Slam champion return to Miami next year. This year's Miami Masters starts on Wednesday, March 21,...and it's just not the same without its two-time champion and fan-favorite Murray.
