JOIN USAndy Murray will make his long-awaited return to the ATP Tour in the Brisbane International on Sunday, after nearly five months out through injury.
Nervous organisers were gladdened by news that the dual Wimbledon champion was on a flight to Brisbane following the blow of losing world No.1 Rafael Nadal for the major Australian Open lead-in tournament.
"Andy is on his way, he'll land later today. He's booking practice and really excited about coming back to Brisbane - his first appearance since 2013," tournament director Cameron Pearson tweeted on Saturday.
Murray, the former World No 1, has been dogged by a hip complaint and played in an exhibition set to test it out in Abu Dhabi on his way to Australia. The 30-year-old Scot was last in action during his loss to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon and then shut down the season after that to recover from his injury.
Murray showed the effects of his time away from the court during his 6-2 loss to Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday, but he is pressing on with his plans to play in the year's opening Grand Slam in Melbourne next month.
"I felt better as it went along, but I'll need to keep improving for sure," Murray told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
"Obviously a bit slow at the start. When you haven't competed for a long while it takes time to get back up to that pace."
But the presence of the three-time Major winner in the Brisbane tournament will be a boost for the organisers after Nadal withdrew last week with lingering concerns over his fitness ahead of the January 15 Australian Open.