Andy Murray to play grass Challenger event during second week of French Open



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Andy Murray to play grass Challenger event during second week of French Open

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will kick off his grass season at the Surbiton Challenger, per BBC's Russell Fuller. Murray, who turned 35 a few days ago, is set to make his second appearance on the grass courts of Surbiton.

Murray made his Surbiton debut in 2004, when he was just 17.

Back then, Murray retired his Surbiton opener after just five games versus Jimmy Wang. The Surbiton Challenger kicks off on May 30, during the second week of the French Open.

Murray has played only one clay event this clay season and he is set to skip the French Open. Murray maybe hasn't played much during the clay season but he is set to have a loaded schedule during the grass season. After Surbiton, Murray will play an ATP event in Stuttgart, which kicks off the week after the French Open.

Also, Murray is expected to play at the Queen's Club leading up to Wimbledon.

Murray suffered a food poisoning in Madrid

Murray was initially planning to skip the entire clay season but he accepted a Madrid wildcard when he was offered one.

In his first and lone clay tournament of the year, Murray was pretty solid as he beat two-time French Open finalist Dominic Thiem in the Madrid first round. After beating Thiem, Murray upset Denis Shapovalov to set up a round-of-16 meeting versus Novak Djokovic.

Unfortunately, Murray suffered a food poisoning and he was forced to give Djokovic a walkover. Djokovic was disappointed after he and Murray didn't get a chance to play for the first time since 2017. "Andy, first of all, is a great champion, someone I admire a lot, someone I respect a lot.

We had some great encounters over the years on all different surfaces. We played finals of every Slam, I think. He's the only player I've played against in every final (of Slam). Might be the case with Rafa as well. He's definitely next to Rafa and Roger, the greatest rivals I ever had," Djokovic said.