Murray cans Paris to focus on grass season

Andy Murray will give the French Open clay another big miss, with the Scot withdrawing on Sunday from the clay court major which begins in a week..

The move follows the formbook, with the 36-year-old having only played in Paris once since 2017.

The three-time Grand Slam winner will concentrate on his grass game in the brief run-up to Wimbledon which begins on July 3.

No. 42 Murray made an effort on clay this spring, winning a Challenger title in France earlier this month but losing early at Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo Madrid and Rome last week.

The Scot dropped an early hint to British media that he might not front up in Paris. “I’m aware that my best chance of having a deep run is more likely to happen at Wimbledon.”

Murray’s absence was added to those of 14-time champion Rafael Nadal, 2022 finalist Nick Kyrgios and 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini.

Murray is now scheduled to play the Queen’s club tune-up tournament in London.

Last year, he reached the grass final in mid-June at Stuttgart, losing to Berrettini after defeating Kyrgios.