Andy Murray withdraws from the 2023 French Open
Andy Murray has withdrawn from the French Open 2023 to focus on the grass-court season in the build-up to Wimbledon, as reported by Skysports. The 36-year-old has withdrawn from the Roland Garros qualifying draw after struggling to recapture his best form on clay in recent weeks, and will instead focus on a demanding grass-court programme in the run-up to Wimbledon. Murray had struggled to find his best form on clay after establishing he was physically fit to take on the world's elite players at the Australian Open earlier in the year.
After having hip surgery in 2018, the former World No. 1 is attempting to resurrect his career. Murray won his first championship since 2019 after defeating Tommy Paul in the ATP Challenger competition final at the beginning of May. After losing in the first round of the Madrid Open in Monte Carlo, he was hurt.
The Scot found consistency from the baseline to rally to a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Paul at the Open Aix Provence Credit Agricole in front of a jam-packed stadium in southern France.
"Physical concerns are not the main issue. I have faith that my body, after all I did at the beginning of the year, will be well. I performed physically well throughout the two five-hour matches I played back-to-back. After losing to Stan Wawrinka in the Challenger match in Bordeaux, Murray stated, "There's no reason why it should necessarily be any different here.
"It was more for me to assess where my game is. At this point in my career, setting priorities is simply the appropriate thing to do. I trust my body now, but I'm conscious that Wimbledon has a better potential of giving me a deep run than anywhere else," he continued.