“I’ve Missed Playing and Competing”: Andy Murray

Andy Murray last stepped on a tennis court nearly one year ago at the All England Club. The World No. 1 at the time, Murray was up against Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals at the time.

Unfortunately the Scot was struggling with persistent hip pain during the fortnight. Eventually, he fell in four sets to the American.

Murray admitted that it was a herculean task both physically and mentally. But, 11 months later, Murray will make his long-awaited comeback at home at the Fever-Tree Championships in London.

“It has been hard,” Murray said. “I came back quicker from my back surgery [in 2013]. I was playing four months later. But my back didn’t feel perfect for a good nine months after I came back. I spoke a lot about that at the time. 

“It took me quite a lot of time until I felt good again, and it’s the same here. I’m not pain free but I don’t expect that either. I’ve had an issue with my hip for about eight years now. I’ve been seeing a hip specialist in Australia for a long time. It’s not perfect, but I’d like to get back to the level where I’m able to compete again. That’s what I’m hoping I’m getting to.”

Despite Murray’s meteoric rise, the chronic ailment and subsequent surgery was a humbling experience. He said that his failure to swiftly recover from the injury had him greatly worried.

“I was very concerned,” Andy Murray added. “Even now, when you’ve not played for such a long time, you’re naturally going to have doubts. You don’t know how you’re going to feel until you start competing and playing again. Whether I started now or three weeks ago or in five weeks time, those doubts will be the same. 

“Going through rehab is difficult. Sometimes it can go smoothly, but I obviously had the surgery and it can be a bit trickier. There were periods during the rehab when I felt ok and you try to increase the amount of load you’re trying to be doing. But the body doesn’t respond as well and it’s about finding the sweet spot with what you’re capable of doing in each period. Everybody responds differently and it’s about going through each stage and trying to be guided by your body and the people around you. Hopefully you make the right decisions.

“I’ve missed playing, I’ve missed competing. I haven’t fallen out of shape and ballooned in weight and gone off the rails. I’ve tried to do the right thing and listen to my team and everyone around me, to try to get on the court and start competing. I have absolutely zero expections and just take time. I would love to get back to the top of the game again, but I just want to start playing again and feel good.”

Murray’s first opponent is Australian player Nick Kyrgios, unfortunately he lost that encounter.