Murray looks on the bright side of injury
ANDY Murray will head home from Australia in a positive mood after beginning his rehabilitation from hip surgery.
The British number one headed Down Under with the intention of resuming his career after a six-month lay-off, but he pulled out of the Brisbane International and his withdrawal from the Australian Open soon followed.
It was at that point he decided to go under the knife in Melbourne to fix his injury, and he will now return to the United Kingdom to continue his recovery.
He said on Facebook: “Not the sort of trip I envisaged on the way over here... was pumped to get back competing at the Australian Open but ended up getting hip surgery and doing crosswords with my mum ?? Heading home positive about the future...??”
Murray, frustrated at missing the first grand slam of the year, is targeting a return to the grasscourt season, which begins in June.
Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov survived an almighty scare against American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The third seed, a semi-finalist in Melbourne 12 months ago, came into this season on a high after winning the ATP Finals in November but was well below his best against a player ranked 186.
McDonald won the opening set and then, remarkably, the fourth set to love, but Dimitrov refused to give in and roared when he eventually sealed a 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 victory.
“It’s a tough day,” said the Bulgarian. “I just had to play with what I had today. I’m the most happy with that; winning on days when you’re not supposed to. He was playing unbelievable. I had to fight, and experience in the end really helped me.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga produced a terrific comeback to defeat Denis Shapovalov and set up a blockbuster third-round encounter with Nick Kyrgios. Tsonga lost to 18-year-old Shapovalov at the US Open last summer but, from 2-5 in the deciding set, turned the tables to win 3-6 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7/4) 7-5.
World number one Rafael Nadal was tested by Leonardo Mayer but quelled the threat of the Argentinian to win 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/4).