Andy Murray: There is currently no estimated return date for three-time Grand Slam winner ankle injury

Andy Murray’s return remains uncertain following his ankle ligament rupture in March.

The 36-year-old suffered the injury during his loss in the third round of the Miami Open.

Murray will be absent from April’s clay-court Monte Carlo Masters and BMW Open in Munich after consulting with medical experts, according to a spokesperson.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has previously mentioned that he does not have extensive plans beyond this summer.

Murray powered through the match against Machac, ultimately falling short with a 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-5) defeat. However, it was on Monday when he disclosed the true severity of his injury.

The individual mentioned experiencing a complete rupture of their anterior talofibular ligament and a nearly full-thickness rupture of their calcaneofibular ligament.

“The duration of Andy’s absence remains uncertain, and he is currently exploring different possibilities with his medical team,” stated Murray’s management team.

“Clearly, this development is quite disheartening for Andy, and he has emphasized his eagerness to return to the court at the earliest opportunity.”

Murray, who will be 37 in May, expressed his desire to participate in another Olympic Games before retiring.

The two-time Olympic champion has also expressed his desire to participate in one last French Open, scheduled to begin on 26 May.

Murray’s appearances at Roland Garros have been limited since his career-saving hip resurfacing surgery in 2019. In 2020, he faced a first-round defeat against Stan Warwinka.

The highly anticipated Wimbledon tournament, where he has achieved the remarkable feat of being a two-time champion, is set to commence on 1 July. Following that, the thrilling Olympics will captivate the world in the beautiful city of Paris starting from 26 July.

The top 56 players in the ATP rankings on 10 June will receive direct entry into the Olympic men’s singles.

Nevertheless, Murray might secure a spot in the competition even if he is placed outside due to withdrawals. His status as a former Olympic and Grand Slam champion could also earn him a spot.

After his impressive performance in Miami, he climbed to 59th in the rankings. However, he unfortunately suffered an injury setback.

Examining the situation

Written by Jonathan Jurejko for BBC Sport

Murray’s remarkable career is reaching its conclusion, and he has always desired to retire on his own terms.

It’s unfortunate that one of tennis’ legendary players, who has already shown incredible resilience by bouncing back from a career-threatening hip surgery in 2019, has encountered another setback just when time is of the essence.

The outcome of the farewells will depend on the recommendations of the experts he has consulted since his return to London earlier this week.

There is still a chance that surgery may be necessary. However, it is probable that this option will only be considered as a final measure, given that it would require a lengthier recovery period and could potentially hinder his aspirations of achieving the farewells he envisions.

Murray has decided to make a rare comeback to the French Open clay at the end of May. He yearns for another triumphant farewell at Wimbledon. The Olympics in Paris is also enticing him as the ideal backdrop to bid farewell.

Orthopaedic experts suggest that hopes could be boosted by avoiding surgery. However, the success of this depends on observing and determining if the ligaments can heal on their own, without the need for reconstruction.

If it happens, and he participates in Wimbledon and/or the Olympics as anticipated, Murray will bid farewell this summer in the place where he truly belongs – on the grand stage.