ATP: Djokovic damps expectations at Murray comeback

Almost a whole year break – tomorrow, Tuesday, Andy Murray will make his long-awaited comeback at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament at Queen´s Club.

Of course Andy Murray enjoys home advantage on his return to the tennis circus – but the draw at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament at London’s Queen´s Club did not mean well with the Scots: Nick Kyrgios is the opening opponent Murrays (third match after 12:00 local time), a proven grass expert.

The Australian proved this only on Saturday in Stuttgart, when Kyrgios had the later champion Roger Federer on the verge of defeat. The good news for Andy Murray: he has won all five games against Kyrgios, the last one took place in Wimbledon in 2016.

The matches of Andy Murray against Nick Kyrgios

The comeback of the former world number one is of course also occupying the colleagues. And one who has taken almost every step along the way with Andy Murray is trying to curb expectations: Novak Djokovic.

“He was away longer than I was,” the Serb explained in London on Sunday. “The hip – I don’t know how painful such an injury is, but the biggest challenge is always mental. You know how to get something like that out of your head, that it’s behind you, and that you concentrate on your game.”

Another top man, Marin Cilic, also sees sporting problems ahead for Murray. “From my point of view, turf is the most difficult surface for a comeback,” said last year’s Wimbledon finalist. “A lot of flexibility is required. Especially from someone like Andy, who’s been missing for almost twelve months.” Even if Andy Murray, with his two successes at Wimbledon, is a man who naturally gets along with the lawn, Cilic added.

Here the single tableau in Queens