Duckworth battling back after surgery

Whatever agonies Andy Murray has been through on his long road back to grand-slam tennis, today’s first-round opponent, James Duckworth, can surely match them with his own horrible history.

Duckworth – a 26-year-old Australian from Sydney’s north shore – is ranked a lowly No 448 after missing long stretches of both this season and last. In his most recent match, he lost 6-4, 6-4 to Canadian Brayden Schnur, the world No257, in qualifying for the WinstonSalem Open on Aug 18.

Duckworth is still working his way back after undergoing five operations in the past 18 months.

“I’ve been on a pretty rough journey with five surgeries – three on my foot, one on my shoulder and one on my elbow – since the start of 2017,” he explained.

“Andy has only had one surgery [three if you include the back operation of 2013, and the groin repair at the end of last season] but we both have a bit of an understanding of what it’s like to be out of the game for an extended period, and we’re trying to get back and getting used to playing matches day in, day out.

“There were times I feared I wouldn’t play again. I couldn’t run, jump or hop, which makes it tough.

“It’s a tough challenge but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve definitely got a better chance now than when he was at his peak, but it will still be an uphill battle.”

Murray is the strong favourite but Virginia Wade, who won the first professional US Open at Forest Hills 50 years ago, urged patience.

“I watched his matches in Washington, he looks really lame still,” said the former British No 1. “I think he’s still a work in progress, he has to look at himself like that. He took a long time off, and it takes you a really long time to come back. But he’s too good a player not to, he has got too many more aspects to his game than a lot of other players.”