Popyrin withdraws from US Open; Krueger gets wild card spot

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, returns a shot to Matteo Berrettini, of Italy, during round three of the US Open tennis championships. (Kevin Hagen/AP)

NEW YORK — Alexei Popyrin withdrew from the US Open on Sunday, allowing 2012 champion Andy Murray to move into the main draw.

That means Murray can relinquish the wild-card invitation he received from the U.S. Tennis Association, which now will be given to American Mitchell Krueger.

Popyrin is a 21-year-old Australian who is ranked 103rd. He joins Australians Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios as players who are skipping the US Open, which is scheduled to be played without spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic in New York starting on Aug. 31.

The 26-year-old Krueger, who is based in Texas, is ranked 195th.

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