Andy Murray has taken a wildcard into next month’s Shanghai Masters, the tournament has announced.
The former world No.1 is stepping up his singles comeback following hip surgery in January and will return to the ATP Tour at the Zhuhai Championships beginning on September 23.
He will then play in the China Open the following week and has now committed to a third week of action in a row at Asia’s only Masters event.
Murray is a three-time winner of the Shanghai title and holds the record as the tournament’s youngest champion after beating Roger Federer in 2010. He also lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2016.
The 32-year-old said: “I’m really looking forward to be going back to Shanghai, a tournament I have had success at in the past – the last time I was there was in 2016.
“Thanks to the tournament for a wildcard, it’s great to be able to continue my comeback and play more tennis in China. Shanghai is a great city, I feel comfortable there and the fans are always supportive.”
Having initially made his comeback in doubles, Murray played his first singles match since hip resurfacing surgery in Cincinnati last month.
He lost in the first round there and in his next tournament in Winston-Salem before winning his first two matches when he dropped down to Challenger level in Majorca.
He has also signed up for the European Open in Antwerp the week after Shanghai.