Murray must shoot from the hip from now on or miss out

ONE week in and I think we can forget those worries about Andy Murray’s hip.

Yes, he was limping when he walked around the court against Fabio Fognini on Friday, but I don’t really buy this injury.

I’m not saying he isn’t hurting. But not so badly to stop him sprinting like a greyhound in rallies.

He’s running after drop shots. Do you think any player is walking on court thinking: ‘Andy’s injured so I’m going to move him around the court’? No.

I don’t think any of the players are thinking there’s anything wrong with him. I would not be thinking: ‘I’m playing an injured man here.’

Murray has been efficient but no more than that — eight out of 10 at his best — and he’ll know he’s not playing at his best and that he’ll have to up things to win this.

But that’s what great players do in grand slams. I always remember Pete Sampras once saying that you play seven matches to win a Grand Slam and play at your best in maybe two or three.

The first week is not always the indication. It’s the crunch now, this is where the real business gets underway.

The encouragement comes from the knowledge that Murray has been there and done it and this is unquestionably his best surface. The crowd is going to be an influence, they are going to inspire Murray and with their boisterous support and intimidate his opponents. Rafa Nadal is the concern. He’s jumped out of the pack. I think the weather has helped him. The courts are faster and harder and he’s had such a great year with a mindboggling French Open, as well as the Australian Open. He thinks he can win. In the last few years I’m not sure he has.

I’m still going with Roger Federer because he was the best in Australia, Palm Springs and Florida and then he won Halle comfortably.

I don’t see any problems for Murray before the semi-finals and then he’s got Nadal or Marin Cilic — my dangerman from the start. That semi is going to be rough, but Murray showed on Friday he likes that.