Andy Murray withdraws from ATP Challenger Tour event in Italy

Andy Murray is heading to a tournament in France after losing to Ukraine's Illya Marchenko, left, at an ATP Challenger event in Biella, Italy. Picture: Felice Calabro/AP

The former world number one, who had to miss the Australian Open due to testing positive for coronavirus last month, was runner-up to Illya Marchenko at last week’s second-tier event in northern Italy.

But rather than stay on in Biella to continue his comeback in the second tournament to be held there, Murray has opted to travel to Montpellier to prepare for the Open Sud de France.

It is understood Murray is happy with the number of matches he got under his belt – five in six days – in his run to the final at the initial event and plans to leave for France on Thursday.

The 33-year-old, who had not played a competitive match since October until he arrived in Italy last week, has been handed a wild card for the ATP 250 event, which starts next Monday.

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