The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Henman warns that Murray must be 100% for US Open –
Scot has to be ‘100% healthy’ if he is to make impact at New York
Tim Henman has urged Andy Murray only to play at the US Open if he has fully recovered from his hip problem.
The three-time grand slam champion limped through his Wimbledon campaign before losing in the quarter-finals to Sam Querrey.
Murray has not played a match since and there were major question marks about his participation at the year’s final grand slam, which starts in New York on Monday.
But he travelled to the United States late last week and has been practising at Flushing Meadows, and the feeling now is much more positive.
Henman, though, sounded a note of caution.
The former British No 1 said: “I hope he’s going there to win it and, if he’s going to do that, he’s got to be 100% healthy.
“With what he’s achieved in his career, making fourth round or quarter-finals is not what he’ s about. With the trouble she’ s had injuries and health-wise this year, it would be silly to put himself even further back.
“If he plays, great, but his hip is obviously something that he’s going to have to manage so I hope he really feels he can do himself justice.”
Murray is far from the only injury doubt, with Roger Federer, Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic also pulling out of last week’s Masters tournament in Cincinnati.
The US Open will definitely be without defending champion Stan Wawrinka, two-time winner Novak Djokovic as well as former finalist Kei Nishikori, who have all pulled the plug on their seasons because of injury.
“If we say Andy is 100%, then there’s no doubt he can win it,” said the 2004 US Open semi-finalist and four-times Wimbledon semi-finalist.
“I think hard courts are probably his best surface. You look a this track record in New York, how well he’s played in Australia, his record in Masters 1000s, and looking at how many injured soldiers there are out there.
“If he is healthy then he’s definitely got a good chance.”