Injury return all mental, Novak warns Murray

ANDY MURRAY’S quandaries when coming back this week will not begin and end with his troublesome hip, according to his rival and friend Novak Djokovic. The area between the ears could prove as much of an issue when he returns after 11 months at the Fever-Tree Championships tomorrow, on the same day the Serb will also make his entrance to the grasscourt season. Djokovic has been on a slow climb back since missing the second half of last season with an elbow problem. He said: ‘I’ve faced a major injury that got me off the court for six-plus months and you feel the consequences of that more mentally than physically. I never knew it was going to take so long to get back in that state of mind where I’m comfortable, where I’m confident with my game and with the changes that I’ve made. ‘Andy has been absent for longer than I have. Hips, I don’t know how difficult it feels for him but I think the biggest challenge will always be mental. How to get it out of your head, understand that you’re healthy and you can focus on your game rather than thinking 50 per cent of the time when you’re on the court about whether something can happen. ‘Does it hurt me? Does it not hurt me? If you don’t have mental clarity, especially on grass, it’s very difficult to play.’ Murray faces Nick Kyrgios in the first round, Djokovic will be up against tough Australian qualifier John Millman.