Andy Murray will not take up a wildcard invitation for the US Open Men's singles after losing his first singles match since the Australian Open.
World number 324 Andy Murray lost in straight sets to Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, on his return to singles tennis at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
“I think I did OK,” Murray said. “I think there were a lot of things I would like to have done better but you also have to be somewhat realistic in terms of what you expect.
The Scot added: “I haven’t played many matches in the past 18 months really. It’s going to take time.”
Decision
However, he had been asked to make a decision on accepting a wildcard for the US Open prior to facing Gasquet.
"I didn't feel I was able to make that decision before today's match," said Murray, 32.
While the Scot will not take up the Singles wildcard invitation, he will play doubles and mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows.
The 45 time ATP tour winner, had been offered a wildcard by the United States Tennis Association, but the three-time Grand Slam winner said: "We were hoping to hold a wildcard until nearer the time and see how it feels.
"But the US Open were announcing their wildcards today and I didn't feel I was able to make that decision before today's match.
"I didn't want to take the wildcard today because didn't know how I would feel after the match.
"I also wanted to maybe wait and see how I felt after maybe playing a couple of matches and how I recover the next day."
Possibility
There is a possibility Murray will play at the Winston-Salem Open this week before the US Open. The Scot will also play singles in China at the Zhuhai Championships and the Beijing Open in September.
Should Murray get over this defeat and resume his singles career, he will be the first player to do so having had the surgery he underwent. The Olympic gold medallist had the top of his femur smoothed and then covered in a metal cap.
Gasquet, who himself missed the first four months of the season after groin surgery, will play Austrian world number four Dominic Thiem in the second round.
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