ANDY MURRAY has withdrawn from next month’s Australian Open (AO) because of a pelvic injury, the three-time Grand Slam champion’s management team announced Saturday.

The former world No. 1, who has been making an inspirational comeback after hip resurfacing surgery, has decided not to travel to Melbourne after the injury he sustained at the end of the season failed to improve as he had hoped.

Murray, who has been able to train on court this week, will miss the Jan. 20-Feb. 2 Grand Slam, where he has been a five-time losing finalist, and will also not play for Britain in the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia, starting Jan. 3.

“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January,” Murray said Saturday.

“After the Australian Open this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best, and that makes this even more disappointing for me.

“Unfortunately I’ve had a setback recently and, as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.”

(SD-Agencies)