Andy hopeful of injury all-clear for Wimbers
Champ back on the court as he gets set to defend his crown
ANDYMURRAYcame through a practice session at Wimbledon unscathed yesterday and said he still plans to play his first round despite a niggling hip injury.
Murray pulled out of two exhibition matches at the Hurlingham Club this week and looked in some discomfort during an hour-and-a-half practice at the All England Club.
The world No.1 was hitting and serving smoothly out on Court 9 but in between rallies limped, grimaced and occasionally bent over in apparent pain.
Murray, however, often owns a deceptively weary demeanour on court. Asked if he would play his opening match on Monday, Murray said: “I hope so, that’s the plan.
“I’m practising again. I just had a light practice this morning to see how I feel and I’ll practise again later.”
Yesterday’s session came after it was revealed Murray’s defence of his Wimbledon crown will begin with a first-round tie against world No.134 Alexander Bublik.
Murray’s coach Ivan Lendl has also moved to ease concerns that his charge’s Wimbledon defence is on the rocks before it has even begun.
Asked if he was concerned about Murray’s preparation, Lendl said: “Not at all. Unlike before Paris, he is hitting the ball really well. Practice has gone well.”
Murray rested on Wednesday and Thursday and is now facing a race against time to be fit for his opening match, which is just three days away on Centre Court.
THE three-time Grand Slam champion has only played two competitive sets on grass in the lead-up to Wimbledon after his shock first-round exit at Queen’s last week.
Lendl, however, indicated Murray’s hitting in practice has been much better than ahead of the French Open last month, when he was also struggling for form but went on to reach the semi-finals.
“I just felt that he hadn’t hit enough balls as opposed to here, where he has hit enough balls,” said Lendl.
“My feeling was that he was not picking the right shot because he hadn’t played enough. Having said that, I thought he was a couple of points away from the Paris final actually.”
That run to the last four at Roland Garros appeared to mark the end of Murray’s disappointing run, but any resurgence was halted at Queen’s by a surprise defeat to Australian lucky loser Jordan Thompson.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” Lendl said. “The first match on grass is always tricky. The guys who beat Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Andy had played qualifying or the previous week at a tournament.
“Guys play matches, feel a little bit more comfortable than the guys who didn’t play. That’s why Novak Djokovic is in Eastbourne.
“He is not there because he likes Eastbourne It’s because it’s a specific surface.”
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