Murray feels like he’s starting from scratch

Former world No.1 Andy Murray feels in some ways like he will be starting his career all over again when he makes his return to hard-court tennis in Washington on Monday.

The tournament will be Murray’s third since hip surgery in January and mark his return to the hard courts for the first time since March 2017 at Indian Wells.

“It sort of feels like I am starting from scratch again,” the 31-year-old Scot told Tennis TV on Sunday.

“I haven’t been in that position since I was kind of 18, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be hard but it should be fun.”

Now ranked a lowly 838th in the world, the three-time Grand Slam winner meets American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the Washington Open on Monday.

Murray played three matches in late June before withdrawing from Wimbledon to better recover from the operation.

“I feel better than I did during the grass [tournaments],” he said.

“I’ve had another four weeks’ training and feel pretty good.”

The twice Wimbledon champion believes he is moving better around the court, and while the decision to skip his home Grand Slam was tough, he knows it was the right one.

“At the time I didn’t feel like I was quite ready to play five-set matches,” said Murray.

“I really wanted to build up for the American summer and hopefully get ready for the US Open.”

His only title at Flushing Meadows came in 2012, when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.

Seeing fellow competitors like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal playing well into their 30s was motivating, he said.

“That gives me a bit more confidence, if I can get myself into good shape again, that my level will be good enough to allow me to compete for the big competitions again,” Murray said.

“But it is going to take some time.”