Former British tennis player Barry Cowan has claimed triple Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will struggle to make his return from hip surgery at Wimbledon.
Cowan, a former World No. 136, feels Murray has a tough road ahead, but believes the 30-year-old’s never dying spirit can make the impossible happen.
Former World No. 1 Murray, who was forced to pull out of the Australian Open on Thursday, underwent hip surgery in Melbourne on Tuesday. Murray revealed he was hopeful of making his return to competitive tennis during the grass-court season in June after the French Open, confident of fully recovering from his long standing hip problems by that time.
“I think it [undergoing surgery] is a positive move – he obviously wants to come back,” Cowan told Sky Sports.
“He has given himself a goal which is the grass-court period – I think that will be tough.”
“I have concerns if you haven’t played for a year and you are coming back on grass then sometimes that can be difficult on your body.”
“But for now I think his goal will be to try and get himself fit and let’s hope we can see him back playing some great tennis in the not too distant future.”
When asked whether the double Olympic champion, Murray can win Major titles after his comeback from hip surgery, Cohan said: “I think it is an impossible question to answer.
“Obviously with the surgeon [Dr John O’Donnell] he is going to say the operation was a success. The rehab and building his practice levels up are the next step.
“Then, of course, the most difficult aspect is when he starts competing again. A year is a long time. It is an incredible amount of time he will have lost.
“But with all these great champions I have always been reticent [to write them off]. They become the very best because of their incredible motivation and incredible will to win.
“If that is still there from Andy then that is very important. I would say that is the most important aspect.”
