MURRAY IS TOLD NOT TO HURRY
GREG RUSEDSKI has urged Andy Murray to skip next month’s Australian Open unless he is 100 per cent fit.
The double Olympic champ has not played since limping out of Wimbledon with a hip injury and is now in London after completing his pre-season training block in Miami.
Murray, 30, still plans to fly Down Under over Christmas but has delayed his departure and concerns are growing he is behind schedule and won’t be fit to play his warm-up event the Brisbane International.
The Scot has never revealed the true extent of the nagging injury that caused him to withdraw just before the US Open.
And former British No.1 Rusedski said: “Murray is a question mark. I think this injury is quite serious.
“I’d be very surprised to see him starting at the Australian Open because the hip problem he has along with all the other past injuries and surgeries has taken its toll. So it is going to be harder progress to get back.
“I honestly don’t know if we have seen the best of him and we just have to wait and see where he is physically.
“And we won’t know till he enters his first Tour event. I hope I am wrong but I think it is going to take Andy a bit of time to get back to where he once was. And that is going to be difficult.
“My advice to Andy would be don’t come back until you are 100 per cent ready. Don’t rush back. He has to look at the long-term picture. Federer took six months off, Rafa took three months off. And only come back when you are ready.
“Andy is used to being No.1 and winning Majors and in the big four – I don’t know if his mentality will accept not being at that level. But he has to do what he feels is best for himself.”
This year Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal shared the four Grand Slams despite a combined age of 67. And Rusedski predicted the takeover of the big four by the next generation will have to wait another 12 months.
He added: “The true changing of the guard will come in 2019. In 2018 Federer is still going to be a force. I see him winning another Major and I make him favourite for Australia.
“Rafa has still to be heavy favourite for the French.
“Novak Djokovic is the intriguing one. Radek Stepanek has come into the fold with Andre Agassi and if he is healthy he is the one you think can pop back up there but to me it’s the elbow as much as psychologically.”
SHAWFIELD DOGS