Murray’s career at crossroad
ANDY MURRAY’S career appears to be hanging in the balance after he withdrew from the Brisbane International citing the chronic hip injury that has kept him out for six months.
Murray was limping as he left for the airport and a flight to Melbourne, where the Australian Open starts in 12 days, and later revealed he may be forced to go under the knife.
“Having played practice sets here in Brisbane with some top players, unfortunately this hasn’t worked yet to get me to the level I would like so I have to reassess my options. Obviously continuing rehab is one option and giving my hip more time to recover,” Murray wrote on Instagram.
“Surgery is also an option but the chances of a successful outcome are not as high as I would like, which has made this my secondary option and my hope has been to avoid that. However this is something I may have to consider.”
Murray, 30, is still clinging to a slim hope of being fit for the Australian Open, a decision he will make at the weekend, but his chances of competing appear negligible.
There was a poignancy and desperation in his words as he explained how his body has not fully responded to rehab.
“Having been recommended to treat my hip conservatively since the US Open I have done everything asked of me from a rehab perspective,” said Murray.
“I didn’t realise until these last few months just how much I love this game. Every time I wake up from sleeping or napping I hope that it’s better and it’s quite demoralising when you get on the court it’s not where you need it to be to compete at this level.”
British No2 Kyle Edmund practised with Murray in the off-season but admitted he had no idea either when he might be match fit again.
“No one really knows where he’s at,” said Edmund. “It’s a shame he’s not playing – it sucks. Everyone wants Andy to be on court.”
Edmund has enjoyed a more promising start to the season, surviving an onslaught of 18 aces before wearing down 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in the first round.
The Briton was beaten twice by Shapovalov in 2017, but the humid Brisbane conditions suited his heavy forehand – and strong serving in the last two sets saw him home.
“The ball was flying a lot so it was all about whoever got the first punch in the rally,” said Edmund.
“You have to go for your shots here because the courts and balls are quick and lively, so that makes it harder to turn defence into attack. To play good tennis in pressure situations against a player like Denis is a great start for me.”
With Murray struggling, the chances of Roger Federer landing his 20th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open appear to be increasing by the day.
In Perth, Federer began 2018 in fine fettle, easing past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 as Switzerland crushed Russia 3-0 in the Hopman Cup.
Meanwhile, British No1 Johanna Konta is still shaking off the rust but moved into the quarter-finals in Brisbane with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic that ranged from scintillating to ugly. Taking the ball earlier and earlier, Konta was in full flow for much of the last two sets, but her timing went and she almost let Tomljanovic back into the match. Konta blew a 5-2 lead in the decider before scrambling over the line. “I definitely didn’t start off playing the way I wanted to in the first set,” said Konta. “I was a little bit loose and I couldn’t quite find my rhythm. “But having these three-set matches this early in the season is a really good thing because it forces you to be physically and mentally tough out there to get through difficult situations.”