Sunday 24 December 2017 13:25, UK
With the 2018 season drawing nearer, we take a look at when and where the world's best tennis players will start their campaigns.
The British No 1 last played a competitive match at Wimbledon where he fell at the quarter-final stage to Sam Querrey.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, was subsequently forced to pull out of the remainder of the season with a hip injury which had affected his performances during the grass court campaign.
Another former world No 1 who is set to make his return to the game from injury is Novak Djokovic, who has added Radek Stepanek to his coaching team, along with three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
"Radek is one of my very close friends on the tour and I was always impressed with his level of determination, passion and love for the sport," said Djokovic, who will bid to challenge for major honours once again.
"I am excited to join our forces together and cannot wait to compete again having a new team to back me up."
Wawrinka, meanwhile, has put his participation at the Australian Open - a title he won in 2014 - in doubt after the three-time Grand Slam confirmed on Wednesday he had pulled out of the year-ending exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
"Unfortunately I won't be able to play in Abu Dhabi this year as I'm not ready yet to compete at this level," said Wawrinka, who is still not back to full fitness after two surgeries on a knee cartilage injury.
"Together with my team, I'm working hard and we will do everything to be ready in time for the Australian Open.
"I'm sad that I won't be able to play in front of the great fans at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship but I need to be patient and give my body the time it needs."
Aside from the expected comebacks of the three respective multiple Grand Slam winners, attention will also be focused on the early-season fortunes of several other established players within the men's game.
Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, who was also confirmed as an absentee in Abu Dhabi through injury, and Tomas Berdych have all reached Grand Slam finals during their careers and many onlookers will be intrigued to see how they fare.
Meanwhile, much is expected of world No 1 Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the illustrious pair aim to build upon their success of 2017 - both players shared the four Grand Slam titles.
Nadal is due to make his first appearance, since withdrawing from the ATP Finals in London with a knee injury, at the Abu Dhabi exhibition event, which starts on Thursday December 28.
"It's true that I finished with an injury, so I've taken a bit of time to recover well," said the 31-year-old, who then plans to play at the Brisbane International.
"That's why I've taken a couple of weeks off and I did my treatment and I need to start again, as I said before, slow. So, that's my goal: try to be ready for the beginning (of the season).
"I am going to try to play in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane before Australia, so that will be the ideal situation. And let's try to make that happen."
However, the established elite of the game will face stern opposition from the younger guard which includes ATP Finals winner Grigor Dimitrov and the impressive 20-year-old Alexander Zverev, who claimed five titles on his way to reaching the season finale.
We'll be back in 2018 with coverage from the Australian Open on www.skysports.com/tennis with news, previews, live blogs, reports and expert analysis.
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