Andy Murray to use protected ranking to play in Australian Open

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will use his protected ranking as world number two to gain entry to January's Australian Open.

The 31-year-old ended his season early to focus on making improvements, having played in six events since returning from hip surgery in June.

Andy Murray, of Great Britain, reacts during his match against Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in New York. [Photo: AP]

Murray will not be seeded in the first Grand Slam event of the new season.

His protected ranking affords him direct entry in up to nine tournaments.

Meantime Serena Williams will return to Melbourne for the first time since winning while pregnant in 2017.

The American reached the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and will attempt to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles victories.