22 Tuesday, January 9, 2018 SPORTS I’m not finished playing yet, says London one, 30, has not played a tennis yet. I’m going to be can return to 95 per cent of his a return from this kind of season - potentially before then ritain’s Andy Murray competitive match since he was competing at the highest level best, that will be enough for surgery. - but I’m certainly not going to has had hip surgery in knocked out of Wimbledon in again,” he said. him to compete again at the But Murray, who has fallen rush anything,” said Murray, BMelbourne and says he hopes July. The ongoing problem “I’m very optimistic about top level. to 19th in the world, said he is speaking from his hospital bed to be playing again in time forced the Scot to pull out of the future - the surgeon is very He hopes he will be hitting not “interested in coming back in a telephone conference call for this summer’s grass-court the ,which happy about how it went.” balls on court again after seven for a specific tournament”. to a group of British journalists. season. begins on 15 January. Murray, a three-time Grand or eight weeks, and has been “My plan is to be back “I want to know when I come The former world number “I’m not finished playing Slam champion, believes if he given 14 weeks as a guide for playing around the grass-court back that I’m ready.”(BBC) Former champ Azarenka out of Sloane Stephens ousted Australian Open London as Giorgi springs surprise tournament and she’s wo-time Australian looking forward to returning Sydney 100, raced away with the second qualifier Veronica Cepede Open champion Victoria to Melbourne next year.” loane Stephens’ set to book a second-round Royg 6-3 6-4. AzarenkaT has become the Last week, reigning ladies preparations for the meeting with Petra Kvitova, Also in Sydney, there were latest star to pull out of the singles champion Serena SAustralian Open suffered who progressed when opponent wins for American qualifier Melbourne tournament. Williams said she would another setback as she Mirjana Lucic-Baroni retired CeCe Bellis, Kiki Bertens of The 28-year-old won not play in Melbourne. was bundled out of the after losing the first set 6-1. Holland and Czech Barbora the in 2012 The former world Sydney International at There was better news for Strycova. and 2013, but is “unable to number one said she the first round stage. fellow grand slam champion At the Hobart International, travel to Australia this year”, was “super close” to The reigning US Open Angelique Kerber who squeezed top seed Shuai Zhang of China organisers said. being tournament-ready but champion fell 6-3 6-0 to through with a 6-7 (3/7) 7-6 moved through to round two She has previously missed reluctantly withdrew from Italian qualifier Camila (8/6) 6-2 victory over Czech with a 7-5 6-3 win over Magda tournaments owing to an the competition. It was due Giorgi, extending her winless Lucie Safarova, saving two Linette of Poland. ongoing child custody battle. to be her first Grand Slam streak since she won her first match points in the process. Former champion Heather Azarenka, currently since giving birth to daughter major at Flushing Meadows Slovakia’s Dominika Watson was an impressive ranked 210 in the world, had Alexis Olympia in September. Cibulkova proved too strong 7-5 6-3 winner over third seed been given a wild card entry in September. Giorgi, for Anastasija Sevastova of Sorana Cirstea, while Tatjana into the tournament, which (eurosport) the Latvia, easing to a 6-3 6-1 win Maria was another seed to fall begins on January 15. world in 77 minutes, while Ashleigh as she lost 6-4 6-2 to Croatia’s Tournament director number Barty defeated Paraguayan Donna Vekic. (PA Sport) Craig Tiley tweeted: “It’s unfortunate that @vika7 is unable to travel to Australia this Mannarino year. The #AusOpen is her favourite battles back Sydney ifth seed Adrian Mannarino booked his placeF in the second round of the Sydney International with a hard-fought win over Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy. The Frenchman was broken twice as he lost the first set but rallied to grind out a 5-7 7-5 6-4 win over the world number 71 after two hours and 20 minutes of action. Lucky loser Ricardas Berankis seized his second chance with a 5-7 7-5 6-4 win over Australian wild card Alex Bolt, while there were also wins for and John Millman. At the ASB Classic in Auckland, seventh seed booked his place in round two with a 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 win over China’s Yibing Wu. Adrian Mannarino (file pic) Camila Giorgi (file pic) Fifth seed Roberto Bautista Agut eased past wild Sousa needed two hours to dispatch Donald Young card Michael Venus 6-2 6-1, and Portugal’s Joao 6-7 (8) 6-4 6-2. (eurosport) Victoria Azarenka (file pic)