Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will not play at this year’s French Open, as his name was not on the entry list this weekend, per Reuters.
The 36-year-old British star will use the time off to prepare for the upcoming grass-court season and Wimbledon, his home major tournament that he’s won twice (2013, ’16). This isn’t the first time Murray has skipped the French Open to focus on Wimbledon. He’s only played at Roland Garros once since he made the semifinals in 2017.
Murray played in three clay-court tournaments this season, winning the title in Aix-en-Provence earlier this month to end a four-year title drought. In his two other clay tournament appearances this year, he lost in the first round.
Just last month, the former world No. 1 said he wanted to try to play in this year’s French Open. However, he believes Wimbledon is his best shot at making a deep run in a major.
“I would like to play just purely because I don’t know if I’ll get another opportunity to play again,” Murray said, via Reuters. “Whilst I feel fit and healthy, I would like to give it a go. I also have ambitions of competing for Wimbledon titles and that sort of stuff, and I know that sitting here today that probably doesn't sound realistic, but I do believe that that’s a possibility.”
Murray is now the second former world No. 1 to withdraw from the French Open, as 14-time champion Rafael Nadal announced his decision not to play due to a hip injury.
