Everyone has an opinion on Andy’s hip injury
I’m sure most of you will have read by now that Andy has had to withdraw from the Australian Open.
His hip has been causing him problems since the French Open last year and he’s done everything he can to rehabilitate it.
But it’s still not quite right. There’s no point in playing in a Grand Slam unless you’re fully fit. They are the biggest events in tennis and also the most gruelling.
To win a Grand Slam, you need to win seven ‘best of five’ sets matches in a fortnight. Andy’s been in the final of the Australian Open five times and would always want to go into these events, aiming to win them but sadly he’s just not ready.
I appreciate that Andy has grown up in the public eye and everyone is interested in what he’s doing. And all of his family and friends are used to that by now.
We really do appreciate the backing he gets from the country. He has enormous support and everyone wants to see him back on court and competing.
He has to do whatever it takes to give himself the best chance. And, for now, that means not competing.
In his situation, though, the world and his wife have an opinion. We’ve grown up with that and are used to it, whether it’s good or bad.
However no one, apart from Andy and his team, know exactly what is going on. So anything you read elsewhere is all conjecture and speculation. I’ve been amazed at how many former players and media pundits have acquired an impressive depth of medical knowledge.
Believe me, he will be doing everything possible to get himself back to where he wants to be.
The strength in depth in the men’s game is incredible and there’s no point in coming back to play when you aren’t 100%.
In the meantime, we just have to put up with all these sensationalist headlines that are based on guesswork. I do think it’s very telling how many of the top players have or have had serious injuries in the last year or two. Andy certainly isn’t alone.
That is something the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has to address. It was originally set up as a union to look after the players.
Now it runs the ATP tour and the demands of the tour on top players are huge because they are the ones who put bums on seats and attract sponsors to the events. The calendar is saturated – the circuit lasts 11 months of the year and spans every continent.
As a parent it has always worried me how little time there is for rest, holidays and family time. And how much the demands of the circuit take out of players mentally and physically. It’s bound to have an adverse effect.
It’s time for the ATP to do something about it.
We really do appreciate the backing Andy gets from the country