Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will play Frances Tiafoe of the United States in the first round of the 2021 European Open.
Murray won the trophy in Antwerp two years ago, marking his first victory since undergoing hip surgery.
Murray was at the summit of men’s tennis in 2016. He won his second Olympic gold medal in singles, the US Open, the ATP World Tour Finals, and finished the season as the world’s No. 1 player for the first time in his career.
However, his hip problem began to bother him the next season.
Murray’s first triumph came at the 2019 European Open, where he defeated Stan Wawrinka in the final after enduring two hip surgeries and missing two years on tour.
As a result, ahead of the tournament’s 2021 edition, the Briton pondered on his two-year title run and the enormous toll it had on his body.
“It was obviously a bit unexpected at the time.
“I spoke a bit about it at the time, but I’d won maybe what would be considered bigger tournaments, but this was one of the hardest that I had to win in terms of everything that I’d went through and I put my body through to get to that point,” Murray said as per reports on ATP Tour.
Andy Murray celebrates his victory at the 2019 European Open
Murray recalled winning the tournament with a metal hip, and how the difficulties he had faced in the years leading up to the event made the achievement all the more emotional.
“But to win a tournament at this level with a metal hip and everything that had gone into that in the previous years, it was a long road, so I have good memories from here,” said Murray.
For the third time in his career, the former World No. 1 would face Tiafoe. The two met in Winston-Salem two months ago, with Tiafoe winning in straight sets. Their overall head-to-head record is 1-1.
If Murray defeats Tiafoe in the first round, he will face No. 2 seed Diego Schwartzman in the second round.
Read More: Murray wins his first match at the San Diego Open