Three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray has said it would be ‘silly’ for him to think that he could return back to the top of his game.
The former world No.1 has been dodged by hip problems over the past two years and has undergone two surgeries within that period. The most recent took place after the Australian Open where he had hip resurfacing surgery. Due to the problems, Murray is currently ranked outside the top 400 and is still in the middle of returning back to singles competition.
Murray’s next test will be the Zhuhai Championships, which will officially get underway on Monday. It will be the fourth tournament where he has played in the singles draw after having surgery. During a pre-tournament press day, the Brit spoke frankly about his chances of hitting top form in the future.
“Honestly, I’m not expecting to get back to my very best,” Murray said during an interview with AFP news.
“I think it would be probably a bit naive and silly to think that would be the case.
“I do feel like tennis-wise I can still compete at the highest level in terms of my skill, it’s just whether physically I can get to a high enough level to be competitive right at the top.
“I’ve still got quite a ways to go in that respect, I don’t know exactly where the end point is.”
Earlier this week at the Laver Cup, John McEnroe told reporters he ‘absolutely believes’ that Murray could return to the top 10 as long as he stays injury free. The Brit has spent 41 weeks as world No.1 during his career. The 14th longest streak in the Open Era.
For the moment retirement is not on the mind of the 32-year-old. Who has vowed to continue playing as long as he keeps improving further on the tour. However, the prospect of walking away from the sport for good is not as daunting as it once was for him.
“Tennis has always been a huge part of my life, but I realised probably then that actually my health was the most important thing for a happy life and I had always probably been worried about what life might look like after tennis,” he said.
“I had a glimpse these last few months and it was brilliant.
“I was just in no pain, just doing lots of different things, hanging out with friends and family, and it was great.
“So I am looking forward to when I do stop playing eventually.
“But while I am not in pain just now, I will try to keep playing tennis because I enjoy it.”
Murray will play Tennys Sandgren in the first round of the Zhuhai Championships in what will be an opportunity to get revenge. He lost to the American in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open last month.
Timeline of Murray’s latest comeback
June:- wins doubles title at Queen’s with Feliciano Lopez in comeback tournament. A week later he loses in the first round of the men’s doubles draw in Eastbourne with Marcelo Melo.
July: Returns to Wimbledon for the first time since 2017. Pairs up with Serena Williams to reach third round in the mixed doubles. Loses in the first round of the men’s doubles.
August: Continues to play a couple more doubles tournaments before starting his singles comeback at the Cincinnati Masters, where he loses his opening match to Richard Gasquet. Then in Winston-Salem he was ousted by Sandgren in the first round.
September: Plays first Challenger event since 2005. Scores two wins before losing in the quarter-finals.
