Photo: Getty ImagesFormer world No1 Andy Murray will miss this month's Australian Open after failing to recover from the hip injury that has kept him out of action for nearly six months. The 30-year-old's withdrawal was confirmed by Australian Open organisers who published a statement from the Scot on the tournament's Twitter account on Thursday. Murray played a one-set exhibition match in Abu Dhabi last week, losing to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut. He joins Kei Nishikori on the absent list for this year's Australian Open after the Japanese withdrew to continue his rehabilitation on a wrist injury. He's already got every hour of the day planned between when he arrives and the start of the Australian Open.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 04, 2018 19:07 UTC