Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open less than two weeks before the US Open starts, but a similar injury timeline last year raises the prospect of the Briton playing in the final grand slam of 2023.
The 36-year-old had pulled out of the Canadian Open in Toronto last week due to an abdominal strain ahead of his third-round match against Jannik Sinner.
And late on Monday night the former world No 1 then withdrew from Cincinnati, where he had been drawn to face Karen Khachanov in the opening round.
Murray, a two-time champion in Cincinnati, has compared the injury to an issue last year, meaning an appearance at the US Open – which starts on Monday 28 August – remains likely bar further setbacks and following a short period of rehabilitation.
“I had a very similar issue last year in the tournament in Stuttgart before Wimbledon which forced me to miss the…