IT’S OP & OUT FOR BRAVE MUZZA
Castle fears for star’s future and Konta is hit by her own hip injury in Aussie countdown
ANDY MURRAY’S career will be over if he is forced to undergo major hip surgery, Andrew Castle has warned. The double Olympic champ yesterday pulled out of the Australian Open with the chronic condition which has kept him out since last year’s Wimbledon. Murray, a five-time Melbourne finalist, will arrive today in London to “assess all the options” open to him – including going under the knife – after a six-month layoff failed to cure the problem. The Scot, winner of three Grand Slam titles, has never revealed the full extent of his injury, but Castle believes it is a genuine threat to his career.
Former British No.1 Castle tried acupuncture, massage, and physiotherapy before undergoing a total right-hip replacement in 2013 at the age of 50. And the BBC tennis commentator said: “In sports like tennis people generally don’t recover from this level of hip injury – assuming it’s either a labral tear or full-on arthritis that requires a new hip.
“Either way, months of physical therapy are required after you have surgery and it’s too central an area, too important to the body’s movement, to come back early from.
“The signs are not good. If he needs a full-on hip replacement, I would say his career is over at the top level.”
Roger Federer did not play for six months to fully recover from knee surgery in 2016 and then returned to win the Australian Open last January. But Murray, a fanatical trainer who relies on grinding down opponents, is a different animal. The British No.1 had back surgery in September 2013 after playing for years on painkillers.
The Scot, 31 in May, returned for the new season but struggled for form and fitness and did not win an event until October 2014 – and this time he could be out of the game for much longer.
Murray issued a brief statement before heading home yesterday. “Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete,” he said.
“I’ll be flying home shortly to assess all the options but I appreciate all the messages of support and I hope to be back playing soon.”
Jo Konta suffered her own hip injury yesterday and is now a fitness doubt to defend her Sydney International title next week – and to play in the Australian Open on January 15. The world No.9 pulled out in the third set of her quarter-final at the Brisbane International against Elina Svitolina.
“Hips take a massive beating,” said Konta (left, receiving on-court treatment). “Our game is becoming more and more physical.”