Andy Murray: I’ll miss the Australian Open for the birth of my child
Britain's Andy Murray has confirmed that he is ready to abandon his quest to finally win the Australian Open this month if wife Kim goes into labour prematurely.
The Scot is desperate to win the Melbourne grand slam, having lost in the final last year for a fourth time, but not at the expense of missing the birth of his first child, which is due in February.
“I’m going to fly home,” said the world No2, who warmed up for the tournament by representing Britain alongside Heather Watson at the Hopman Cup on Monday.
“I’d be way more disappointed winning the Australian Open and not being at the birth of the child.”
Murray and Watson beat a France team of Kenny de Schepper and Caroline Garcia 2-1 in their opening clash of the Hopman Cup in Perth.
Davis Cup hero Murray swept aside world No148 De Schepper 6-2, 6-2 before Garcia sent the contest to a decider by beating Watson, who is now being coached by Murray’s mother Judy, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
The British pairing again went ahead in the mixed doubles but lost the second set and needed to prevail in a champions tie-break to wrap up a 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 victory.
Murray and Watson face an Australian team of Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova in their second group tie tomorrow, with German duo Sabine Lisicki and Alexander Zverev on Friday. The top pairings in each group of four proceed to Saturday’s final. The Australian Open starts on 18 January.