(Miami) Briton Andy Murray will be absent for an “extended period” after seriously injuring his ankle during his elimination in the third round of the Miami tournament on Sunday.
Murray left the court, visibly in great pain, at the end of the match, after being beaten by the Czech Tomas Machac 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).
Although he continued to play and was initially optimistic about his ankle, the Scot, currently 62e in the world rankings, said Monday that he suffered a complete rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament and a near complete rupture of the calcaneofibular ligament.
“I’m going to see an ankle specialist when I get back to figure out my next steps,” Murray said on Instagram. “It goes without saying that this is difficult to take and that I will be away for an extended period of time,” he added.
Victim of numerous injuries since 2017, Murray, who will be 37 in May and notably had a metal hip prosthesis fitted in 2019, has already indicated that he will retire this season.
If it is awarded, it is likely that the singles gold medalist from London in 2012 and Rio in 2016 will participate in the Paris Olympics immediately after the Wimbledon tournament, which he also won twice, before to end a professional career that began in 2005.