DOWN UNDER SCRUTINY
Rusedski: We’ll only know how strong Murray is when his body is put under pressure at Oz Open
GREG RUSEDSKI has warned Andy Murray he’ll need to pass a gruelling test at the Australian Open before he can confirm his return to the tennis elite.
The Scot has battled back from hip resurfacing surgery after fearing that the injury would end his career.
Former World No.1 Murray has surprised many pundits – including Rusedski – with his return to action following the op earlier this year.
In a three-week stint in China, Murray beat now World No.11 Matteo Berrettini and pushed Dominic Thiem and Fabio Fognini hard in close defeats.
And last night the Dunblane star stepped up his comeback with an impressive straight-sets win over World No.45 Pablo Cuevas in the European Open in Antwerp.
It has been a big improvement from the performances Murray produced on his return to singles action in America in August – and it has given hope to his fans.
But after two years of struggles with his right hip and at the age of 32, Rusedski says it’s too early to say if Murray can challenge for Grand Slam singles glory again.
And he insists he’ll need to cope with the tough schedule of the first Slam of next year in Melbourne to prove he’s getting back to his best.
Former British No.1 Rusedski admitted: “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Andy.
“I thought it would be much more difficult for Andy, that it would take a little bit longer, but he has played very well. The question mark is still how much can his body take week in, week out. There’s still a long road back.
“He has played two matches back to back but can he play three, four, five days in a row?
“It’s too hard to predict. We’ll know more when he plays the Australian Open and a three-outof-five-set match.
“It’s not his mentality or his tennis, it’s what the body will allow him to do. But the signs are very positive.”
Murray is now into the quarterfinals of the event in Antwerp after his 6-4 6-3 triumph over Cuevas.
The Scot, who faces Romanian Marius Copil tonight for a place in the semi-finals, said: “I felt a bit better out there.
“I thought I served quite well
for most of the match and when I was able to get into the baseline rallies I felt like I was hitting the ball quite clean, which is good.
“He served very well which made it difficult for me to get the breaks but for me it was a good match.”
Murray has won his first matches at ATP Tour level in 16 months in this tournament but the event is likely to be his last of the year, with the possible exception of the Davis Cup next month.
With his third child due, he is planning a month-long break and the Scot could even leave Antwerp early if his wife Kim goes into labour.
Meanwhile, Dan Evans was dumped out the Stockholm Open by Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic.