HIP, HOORAY
Murray feels ready for Slam return
ANDY MURRAY launches his latest comeback today as he tests his hip before a planned Grand Slam return at the US Open.
But the Scot has admitted he still has nagging questions over the quarantine rules in New York and playing the French Open in September.
Murray has been out of action since suffering a pelvic injury at the Davis Cup finals in November.
And the former world No.1 only played 18 singles matches in 2019 following a return from his second hip operation.
Murray wanted to play the Miami Open in March but his first match back will now be against Liam Broady in the Schroders Battle of the Brits.
“My hip’s been feeling better, probably the last three or four weeks,” he said. “It feels better than in March. Now I feel a little bit more confident in it because I’ve had more training.
“Playing matches is important for me. I’m playing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and it’s a good level, so that will be a good test physically.
“I want to hold up physically this week and have my hip good at the end of it having completed three, four or five matches.
“If it doesn’t flare up that would be a hugely positive thing and maybe the boney growth that I have is manageable. Once I get back playing I will be hungry to do well.”
The 2012 champion wants to play the US Open in August. He said: “I would go and play providing that we are given the assurance that it will be safe.”
But the three-time Grand Slam winner added: “What’s the punishment for people not sticking to the rules there that have been put in place?
“Imagine a situation where you’re in the last stages of the US Open but, because someone’s broken those rules and gone into Manhattan or done something he shouldn’t have been doing, and you then contract the virus and are not able to compete in the quarter-finals and semis. It would be extremely frustrating. How do they police that exactly?”
British No.6 Broady will be the first test for Murray and he is sceptical about the former
Wimbledon champion’s caution over his recovery.
Broady said: “It’s not going to be easy. He’s been giving it a lot of chat about how bad he is and how bad his hip is and how poorly prepared he is and how he’s one of the least favourites for this tournament.
“But he’s a serial winner and one of the toughest competitors on tour. So I suspect when the time’s called after the warm-up tomorrow he’s going to be pretty tough to beat.
“At this point I don’t believe anything that comes out of his mouth, whether it’s true or not.”