Wild cards Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori will duel in the first round of the ATP 250 San Diego Open.
It will be the 12th meeting in the pair’s head-to-head rivalry, which Murray leads 9-2.
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Murray, who is down at No 113 in the ATP rankings, has taken several wild cards this season and has not been the same player in recent years having undergone two hip surgeries.
He, however, showed promise this past week at the Moselle Open, where he beat world No 26 Ugo Humbert and Canadian veteran Vasek Pospisil before losing to Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
It was 34-year-old Murray’s first appearance in the quarter-finals of an ATP event since winning his 46th career title at Antwerp in October 2019.
The winner between Murray and world No 54 Nishikori will face a stiff test in the second round against second seed Casper Ruud, who is competing this weekend for Team Europe in the Laver Cup.
The Norwegian is No 10 in the rankings and has won four ATP Tour titles this year.
Russian Andrey Rublev is the top seed in San Diego.
Picture: Andy Murray – ATP Tour/Twitter
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