Murray told he can return to top after op
A leading hip specialist believes surgery could help Andy Murray return to his best form – provided there is not too much damage in the joint.
The former world No 1 has withdrawn from the Australian Open and is considering going under the knife to try to resolve the problem, which has kept him sidelined since Wimbledon.
Murray has kept the exact details of the injury private but is known to have consulted a number of specialists in a bid to find the best way forward.
With a conservative approach not having allowed him to return to the court, an operation now appears a likely course of action.
Professor Max Fehily, lead surgeon at The Manchester Hip Clinic, has extensive experience operating on athletes with similar problems.
He sees surgery as being a good option for Murray and one that could well allow him to return to the top of the sport, albeit after a significant period on the sidelines.
“He’ll have had the best physio and body strengthening you can have, so then the next step is surgery,” he said. “And in a way I’m surprised he’s left it this long because it’s very difficult to perform at his level with that kind of an injury.
“Recovery from keyhole surgery, you’re looking at realistically six to 12 months before you’re back at top level. He’ll have done a lot of work pre-surgery to make him stronger and that will speed up his recovery.
“Based on what’s in the public domain, there’s no reason why he can’t return to his previous level, but it will all depend on how much damage is already there.”
In a statement, Murray said: “Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete. I’ll be flying home to assess all the options but I appreciate all the messages of support.”