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  • Murray and Blake to make late Barcelona appearances

    4/28/08 3:00 PM | Mattias Yrgård
    - Andy Murray and James Blake have secured late places into this week's Barcelona Open as both struggle to recover from serious clay losses in the French Open run-up.

    British No. 1 Murray, who bundled out 6-0, 6-4 in the Monte Carlo third round, joined Blake, who is just over an embarrassing loss at home. The American lost a final-set lead in Houston against Marcel Granollers-Pujol through a third-set collapse.

    Blake has never played an ATP event on Spanish clay but will be part of the US team which will travel to Spain September for a Davis Cup semi-final on the dirt.

    The pair replace Russian number four Nikolay Davydenko, who withdrew for personal reasons, and beloved Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten.

    The three-time French Open winner had been due for a goodbye appearance as a wild card with his retirement looming at age 31 at the French Open after two hip surgeries.

    But Kuerten, beaten in this week's Monte Carlo first round, injured himself and will need to rest. His final appearance on court will come at Roland Garros which begins May 25.

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