Murray’s hip op return reaches Fever pitch

ANDY MURRAY’S return to competitive tennis will be tougher than he may have hoped after being handed a Queen’s Club appointment with Nick Kyrgios.

Murray decided on Saturday he would play at next week’s Fever-Tree Championships, ending an 11-month absence from the game.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has not played since last year’s Wimbledon due to a hip injury and subsequent surgery.

He practiced at Queen’s on Friday ahead of next week’s Fever-Tree Championships, delayed a decision until Saturday and then told tournament officials he would be there.

“Andy Murray has confirmed that he will play in the Fever-Tree Championships,” the tournament said on its official Twitter account.

“There are a lot of doubts when you’ve not played for a long time,” he said.

“I’m expecting to be very nervous when I go back out there. You never know exactly when you’re going to be ready, but I’m looking forward to getting back out there and competing and hopefully playing well.”

Murray (left) played with fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in a relaxed session on Friday but will have a real step up in opposition when he sees Kyrgios over the net.

The Australian is No.24 in the world and is supremely talented, if volatile. Murray, however, has a good record against him, winning all five of their meetings. CRAIG JONES