Andy Murray accepts Rothesay Open wildcard ahead of Wimbledon return

Andy Murray has accepted a wildcard to play in Nottingham next week as he builds towards another tilt at Wimbledon.
The three-time Major champion skipped the French Open this year to concentrate on his preparations for the grasscourt season.

The Scot, 36, is playing a Challenger event in Surbiton this week and he has reached the semi-finals.

Now the LTA have confirmed that the former Olympic champion has accepted a wildcard to play the Rothesay Open Nottingham which starts on Monday.

Murray reached the final of the Stuttgart Open last year – where he lost to Matteo Berrettini – but his successful run at Surbiton has persuaded him to stay home next week.

The world No.43 will also play the cinch Championships at Queen’s Club before Wimbledon starts on July 3.
Katie Boulter and Katie Swan, who both have a chance to replace Emma Raducanu as British No.1 this week, have also accepted Nottingham wildcards.

Murray beat world No.69 Jason Kubler in the quarter-finals in front of 622 people in Surbiton on Friday – and admitted he was motivated to keep playing to return to the big stages.

“I was watching (Holger) Rune v (Casper) Ruud match the other night, and playing the quarter-finals or semi-finals of the French Open is something that I did regularly,” said the 2016 French Open finalist.

“I loved playing in those matches, in full stadiums like that. Obviously when I get the opportunity to, like at the Australian Open or Wimbledon, I’ve really enjoyed those occasions. I would like to be playing in the latter stages of those events more.”