Mumbai: World No.2 Andy Murray has pulled out of Rogers Cup which is scheduled in Toronto a week before the Rio Olympics.
It is the first time that this Wimbledon champion decided not be a part of the Canadian event. Never has he skipped it since his maiden appearance in 2006.
Murray is clear that he wants to give his body time to rest before he sets out to defend his Olympic singles title at the Rio Games.
Representing Great Britain, Murray won his third Rogers Cup title last year in Montreal. The defending champion said that after reaching the final round in each of his last five events that he needed to take some time off.
“My body needs some recovery time after reaching the latter stages of tournaments over the past few months”, Murray said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. “I am sorry to my fans in Toronto but I look forward to being back in Canada next year.”
Even after staying under the shadows of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic et.al for years the lanky tennis player finally managed to come out of that when he stunned Federer in an epic final in his own den four years ago.
Having won three Grand Slam titles (two Wimbledon and one US open) following his maiden Olympic Gold in 2012 in London, the gritty Brit is game for another shy at the world’s largest platform. Come August 6, Murray will get down to the business in the other part of the world where climate will be the biggest challenge for him.
The Rogers Cup will run from July 23-31 and the tennis competition at the Rio Olympics will be held from August 6-14.