British number one Andy Murray has hinted that he is not guaranteed to be fit for the Australian Open in January.
Murray has recently undergone back surgery that has ruled him out for the rest of the year, and the two-time major winner has revealed that he doesn't expect to be picking up a tennis racquet until the start of December.
The 26-year-old told BBC Sport: "I'm not going to come back unless I'm 100% fit. I've got a long way to go yet.
"I've been in the swimming pool and on the bike a little bit but it's still going to be four or five weeks until I'm back on the tennis court hitting some balls.
"The rehab process is pretty tedious and long, and I don't want to come back too soon and have to start that process all over again. I'll only come back when I'm 100% fit and I hope that's at the beginning of the year."
Murray reached the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
Darren Plant
