Andy Murray cuts Asia tour short, withdraws from 2023 Japan Open

The world number 39 won only one match out of the four encounters he played in East Asia, culminating in a first-round straight-set defeat to 50th-ranked Russian 26-year-old Roman Safiullin at the Shanghai Masters.

Murray has decided to make an early return back to Europe in order to prepare for the indoor court season but according to the available entry list, he will still play in three tournaments this year. 

The 36-year-old Brit will still feature in the Swiss Indoors Basel this month, the Paris Masters a week later and at the Davis Cup Finals in November after the ATP Finals are complete.

Murray has battled for consistency during the 2023 season. He is currently 32-17 for the year and will be looking to regain some form ahead of the Davis Cup where Great Britain will face Novak Djokovic-led Serbia in their quarter-final clash.

The former US Open champion had even missed his grandmother's funeral in order to help Great Britain qualify for the finals in Malaga, Spain, and dedicated the nation's victory in her honour.

Murray had started the season off well before struggling, becoming the third player since the year 2000 to win consecutive ATP Challenger grass court titles (Surbiton & Nottingham)after fellow Brit Dan Evans in 2019 (Surbiton & Nottingham) and Yen-hsun Lu in 2016 (Surbiton & Ilkley).

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