MURRAY FACES BRUTAL REALITY

Mac: Fed is Ali of tennis Starts tomorrow with defending ‘This sport is so tough on our bodies ..players are rarely 100 per cent fit’

JOHN McENROE says that Roger Federer claiming an eighth Wimbledon title would be the tennis equivalent of Muhammad Ali’s amazing exploits.

The Swiss superstar won his 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January after six months out of the game.

Now Federer, 35, is the favourite to win his first Wimbledon title since 2012.

“What he did in Australia was insane,” said McEnroe. “He hadn’t played a single tournament since losing in the semis at Wimbledon last year.

“If he won Wimbledon too, it would have to be one of the all-time efforts ever. I don’t know if you would put anything above Ali and what he represented. But, in sports terms, it would be right up there.”

Fears had grown that Britain’s world No. 1 and two- time SW19 champion might not be fit to play in his favourite tournament after a hip injury wreaked havoc with his preparations.

But both he and head coach Ivan Lendl were all smiles as they walked off the practice courts at the All England Club yesterday after Murray had hit again with young Scot Aidan McHugh.

Murray will practice again today but all the signs are that, while not in peak physical condition, he will be fit enough to face lucky loser Alexander Bublik on Centre Court.

He said: “Tennis is a tough sport, and the demands we put on our bodies on a daily basis are huge.

“It’s rare to find a player that is 100 per cent fit, but that’s the brutal reality of most elite sport.

“It’s about managing your body and your training as best you can so that when the time comes you’re as ready as possible to perform at the highest level.

Demanding

“Players going into a tournament with injuries and niggles is nothing new, and it happens frequently on the tour.

“The schedule is demanding and matches are often tough on the body, so it’s often about recovery and getting yourself ready for the next match.

“Over the years I have entered plenty of tournaments with less than ideal preparation, you just need to accept that will be the case sometimes and find a way.”

Murray’s first- round exit at Queen’s and his injury means he is short of match practice on grass.

He added: “My preparation on grass hasn’t been great but there’s nothing I can do to change that now, so it’s about focusing on the first match, finding a way to win and then taking it from there.

“Queen’s has generally been good for my Wimbledon preparation over the years and I’ve played some good matches and finals there, but I have also lost early before there and gone on to do well.” This promises to be the most open race for the men’s title for some time with Roger Federer the favourite, although he has not won on the hallowed lawns since 2012.

Rafael Nadal is in red-hot form after winning his 10th French Open title — ‘ La Decima’ — but has struggled on grass in recent years, while Novak Djokovic has suffered an alarming dip in form.

The men’s Wimbledon title has been shared out among the ‘Big Four’ since 2002.

Murray said: “They are probably three of the best players of all time and what they have achieved has been incredible, especially their ability to win consistently and under pressure.

“People often ask me about the pressure of being No.1, but it’s not something I think about.

“So far this year has been difficult, with injuries and illness, so it’s important that I get back to winning ways and that’s all I am thinking about.

“The tour is incredibly competitive just now, and there are a lot of good young guys coming through — big- serving guys guys, who are going into matches with no fear, going for every ball and that’s great for the sport.

“I love that, I see it as a challenge. It’s motivating as it means I have to keep improving all the time.

“You can’t worry about what other players are doing, you can only control what you do — I’ll give it everything I have over the next two weeks.”

Wimbledon without Murray would be unthinkable – but with such poor preparation this time his appearances may be limited.