ANDY’S AGONY
Murray puts on brave face at SW19 as he battles injury
Champ struggles with injured hip before Wimbledon
Fears had grown that Britain’s World No.1 and two- time SW19 champion might not be fit to play in his favourite tournament after a hip injury wreaked havoc with his preparations.
But both he and head coach Ivan Lendl were all smiles as they walked off the practice courts at the All England Club yesterday after Murray had hit again with young Scot Aidan McHugh.
Murray will practice again today, but all the signs are that, while not in peak physical condition, he will be fit enough to face lucky loser Alexander Bublik on Centre Court.
He said: “Tennis is a tough sport, and the demands we put on our bodies on a daily basis are huge.
“It’s rare to f ind a player that is 100 per cent fit, but that’s the brutal reality of most elite sport.
“It’s about being able to manage your body and training as best you can so that when the time comes you’re as ready as possible to perform at the highest level.
“Players going into a tournament with injuries and niggles is nothing new, and it happens frequently on the tour.
“The schedule is demanding and matches are often tough on the body, so it’s often about recovery and getting yourself ready for the next match.
“Over the years I have entered plenty of tournaments with less than ideal preparation, you just need to accept that will be the case and find a way.”
Murray’s first-round exit at Queen’s to lucky loser Jordan Thompson and his injury means he is short of match practice on his best surface. He added: “My preparation on grass hasn’t been great, but there’s nothing I can do to change that now.
“So it ’s about focusing on the first match, f inding a way to win a nd then taking it from there.
“Q ue en’s h a s generally been good for my Wimbledon preparation and I’ve played some good matches and finals there, but I have also lost early before there and gone on to do well.” This promises to be the most open race for the men’s title for some time with Roger Federer the favourite, although he has not won on the hallowed lawns since 2012. Rafael Nadal is in red hot form after his 10th French Open title but has struggled on grass recently. Novak Djokovic showed signs of getting back to his best with a victory at Eastbourne yesterday but has suffered an alarming drop in form in past months.
Murray said: “They are probably three of the best players of all time and what they have achieved has been incredible, especially their ability to consistently win under pressure.
“People ask me about the pressure of being No.1, but I don’t think about.
“So far, this year has been difficult, with injuries and illness, so it’s important that I get back to winning ways.”
Novak Djokovic lifted his first title in more than five months as he won at Eastbourne. The Serb ended his preparation for Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-4 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils. Earlier, Karolina Pliskova laid down a marker ahead of SW19 by beating Caroline Wozniacki. The Czech star only needed 80 minutes to claim a 6-4 6-4 victory and win her third title of the year.