BUDDY DOUBLE
Konta: It would be hard to say ‘No’ to Andy
ANDY MURRAY will make a remarkable return to tennis in doubles this month and then plans to play at Wimbledon.
And British No.1 Jo Konta, who plays in the French Open quarter-finals today, said she would consider pairing up in a mixed doubles dream team at SW19.
Former world No.1 Murray feared his career was over during a tearful pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open.
Organisers even showed an emotional video of tributes from fellow players after his first round defeat. But since undergoing hip resurfacing in January, Murray has staged a rapid recovery and will now play the doubles at the FeverTree Championship at Queen’s Club with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez (inset). Murray, who was 32 last month, then hopes to play doubles at SW19. Playing singles this summer is still unlikely – though nothing can ever be ruled out with the three-time Major champion. He said: “I am really excited to return to the match court for the first time since my surgery. Queen’s has always been a special place for me and it’s the perfect place to return.
“It’s where I won my first ATP match, my first title in Britain and on grass, and it’s been my most successful tournament. I’m not yet ready to return to the singles court, but I’ve been pain-free for a few months. “I have made good progress in training and on the practice court, and this is the next step for me as I try to return to the tour.” Murray was back on the practice court in May, and he posted pictures on social media this weekend of him serving on a grass-court to show the speed of his recovery. Former French Open champion Lopez is a fine doubles player – and his looks are admired by Andy’s mum
Judy Murray, who has dubbed him “Deliciano”. Konta played mixed doubles in the Rio Olympics with Jamie Murray and she said of Andy: “He would have to ring me and ask me. I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it. But it would be hard to say no to Andy. Let’s see how my body is doing.”
Today Konta faces one of the biggest matches of her career as she meets American Sloane Stephens, and tennis legend Martina Navratilova says the British No.1 has surprised everyone but herself by reaching the quarter-finals.
Konta has raced from winning her first-ever match here in the opening round to eyeing a place in the final.
“Maybe she expected it, but we really didn’t see it because she had never won a match here,” said Navratilova. “It came out of nowhere really.”