ATP: Comeback of Andy Murray seems to be delayed further

Andy Murray’s comeback seems to be further delayed after his hip surgery at the beginning of the year. The Times even speculates that the two-time Wimbledon winner could miss the grass court season.

The welcome text on Andy Murray’s Instagram pro is: “I play tennis” – but at the moment the Scotsman can only dream of a regular tournament routine. Since his defeat to Sam Querrey in July 2017 in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, he has not played a professional match.

The former number one had actually wanted to start at the Australian Open in January, but cancelled at short notice – and surprisingly underwent hip surgery in Melbourne.

The Times, a reliable source not only for Murray, wrote on Wednesday of a “setback” during the rehabilitation phase, which could even endanger Murray’s start at the grass tournaments. Included at his heart event in Wimbledon (from July 2).

As the paper reports, Murray had trained again on the holy turf at the All England Club on Church Road in London SW 19, but for over two weeks the 30-year-old has not been seen practicing there. In addition, he has cancelled several sponsor appointments, it continues.

Posts on his social media channels have become a rarity. At the moment it is more about the play-off games in the NBA or the fight against malaria, as the BBC reported, tennis hardly plays a role there any more.

According to The Times, there is little hope that Murray will play at the Challenger tournament in Loughborough at the end of May, as was once planned. The British Tennis Federation is said to have organised this event especially for him in view of a possible appearance of his figurehead.

At the end of March everything still looked promising, when Patrick Mouratoglou’s current number 39 of the ATP ranking in the Academy trained on hard courts just outside Nice and a court was even named after him on the picturesque course. At the ceremonial ceremony, the three-time Grand Slam Champion seemed visibly moved.

Murray’s management is keeping a low profile in the speculative phase. His return to the ATP Tour is officially planned for the 250cc tournament in s’Hertogenbosch/Netherlands (June 11-17). Sir Andy”, Olympic champion of 2012 and 2016, will then compete in the classic at Queen’s Club and in Wimbledon. But there are doubts…

At the tournament in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago, Rafael Nadal had reported that he had recently called his buddy Murray. “When he’s well, Andy will be able to play the great titles again. If you’re not fit, it’s almost impossible to play at the level that Andy expects of himself,” said sand court king Nadal – a burned child himself when it comes to injuries.