“There Were No Guarantees”: Andy Murray Reflects on Career-Threatening Hip Surgery

Veteran Scottish tennis star Andy Murray has opened up on his enduring injury battles, saying that there were moments when he feared that he may never be able to come back.

In an interview with People magazine, the three-time Grand Slam champion said that the last few years, when he struggled to put mind over matter, have been “really hard”.

Andy Murray says he’d no guarantees he’d return after undergoing hip surgery

Coupled with persistent aches and niggles, Murray came down with Covid-19 just days ahead of this year’s Australian Open. His efforts to negotiate a quarantine arrangement with the tournament organizers came to naught, as a result of which he decided not to travel for the year’s first Grand Slam.

The Scot did return to action at the Rotterdam Open, which was staged recently, but his campaign ended early as he lost his pre-quarters tie to eventual champion and current World Number 8 Andrey Rublev.

Ranked 118th in singles currently, the Scot said that even after undergoing a hip resurfacing surgery, he had no absolute assurance that he could return to action.

“Been working very hard on my conditioning”: Andy Murray

“After the operation, there were no guarantees I would play again,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said, adding that he has since put in plenty of work to build himself back to a shape where he could harbor hopes of returning to the Tour again.

“I’ve been working very hard on my conditioning and over the last few months I’ve felt the best I have for years,” the 33-year-old Murray said, exuding optimism.

He added that while he has to pick and choose his events carefully from here on in to cut down risk of injuries, he is “excited to be back competing — with a metal hip”.

The Scot was scheduled to feature in the Dubai Open but pulled out at the last minute to be with his wife Kim Sears, who recently gave birth to their fourth child.

The 33-year-old Murray made his return to Grand Slam tennis at last year’s US Open.

Read More: Andy Murray Pulls Out of ATP Dubai as His Wife Kim Sears Gives Birth to Their Fourth Kid

However, his campaign ended in the second round after he fell to a straight-set loss to rising Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime.