Murray hopes recovery goes very swimmingly

ANDY Murray has reinvented his match preparations and recovery routine in an attempt to ensure his return from injury is a success – and it includes swimming.

He secured his first victory in almost a year on Monday when he impressively defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets at the Nature Valley International.

He had only last week returned after a long-term struggle with injury led to hip surgery and had contributed to his world ranking falling from first to 157th.

Today in Eastbourne he meets Kyle Edmund in the competition’s second round, and i n the knowledge his compatriot has since succeeded him as the British No 1.

Murray’s wider focus is on ensuring he adjusts to the new demands on his body, and also the specific threats posed by the world’s leading players.

“The day after a match last year I would have hit the following day but after the match against Nick Kyrgios last week I was in the swimming pool, had a bit of massage, then spent an hour and a half with my physio,” the 31-year-old said.

“I’ve been doing more in the pool recently and been doing that before matches too, getting in the pool to loosen up a little bit. That is something new I haven’t done in the past.

“I do aqua-jogging, stretching, different movements, leg swings and hip swings, no loading or impacting, trying to get the body moving again.

“Movement is the most important thing I need to work on.”

Teams who play in the Perth and District Netball League are pictured before the start of a recent tournament at the Fair City’s Bell’s Sports Centre.