Murray’s new injury scare

only two matches on grass under his belt.

Murray has already had an injury-hit year, with a bout of shingles and an elbow problem disrupting his schedule since his fourth-round Australian Open exit.

His surge to the semi-finals of the French Open three weeks ago – despite starting that tournament with a heavy cold – and his reunion with coach Ivan Lendl raised optimism in the Murray camp. But this has not been a good eight days.

The defending champion will be named top seed for the Championships today, but he has been overtaken by Roger Federer, who produced an imperious victory for his ninth title at Halle last week, as favourite for the title in the eyes of the bookmakers.

Rain meant Marcus Willis’s bid to reach the main Wimbledon draw again was delayed by 24 hours, as his match against fellow Briton Liam Broady in the qualifying competition at Roehampton was called off yesterday.

And Novak Djokovic, below, was similarly frustrated by the weather at Eastbourne.

All he managed against Canadian Vasek Pospisil was one and a half games, during which he doublefaulted twice on his initial delivery but led 1-0. It must have seemed strange. Rap music accompanied him onto court as the crowd gave him polite applause. Djokovic waved a nervous hand in reply, but was soon back in the sanctuary of the locker room.

He will hope the elements are kinder today, but then the wind is forecast to arrive and that will bring the shrieking seagulls.

Perhaps he should have elected to stay around Wimbledon in his search for some form.