Andy Murray to play Monte-Carlo Masters after elbow injury

Sir Andy Murray will make his return from injury at the Monte-Carlo Masters as hoped. The reigning world number one has been suffering from an elbow problem and has not played a competitive match since suffering a shock second-round defeat to Vasek Pospisil at last month's BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Murray subsequently withdrew from the Miami Open and was unable to feature for Great Britain in their emphatic 4-1 Davis Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Rouen. The three-time Grand Slam winner tested his fitness on Monday night (10 April) and lost 3-6, 6-7 to Roger Federer in a Match for Africa 3 charity exhibition contest at Zurich's Hallenstadion that raised over £1m ($1.25m) for the Roger Federer foundation.

Murray's participation at the French Open was apparently never in doubt and he remained optimistic of preparing for Roland Garros by appearing in the principality for what is the first major event of the European clay-court season.

The 29-year-old was able to practice for several days prior to that trip to Switzerland, although the elbow issue continued to hamper his serve.

"Monte Carlo starts in a week, so I'm hoping, if I keep progressing as I have with the elbow, to play Monte Carlo," he said after that light-hearted defeat to Federer. "If not then I just need to stay patient and I'll try the following week. I'm getting there, I just have to go slowly."

Murray's place at the Monte Carlo Country Club was confirmed after he was entered into the draw for this year's competition. Handed an initial bye, he will face either Gilles Müller or wildcard Tommy Robredo in round two.

Elsewhere in the first round, British Davis Cup teammates Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund are set to lock horns for the very first time on the ATP Tour in a battle to secure a meeting with Rafael Nadal. The defending champion, a nine-time winner in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin who is hoping to secure a 50th career title on clay, has been placed in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic faces Gilles Simon or Malek Jaziri first up, while third seed Stan Wawrinka is scheduled to meet either Mischa Zverev or Jiri Vesely.