Andy Murray revealed his hip operation has been “life-changing” as he prepares to make his return to competitive tennis.
Former world number one Murray has entered the doubles at Queen’s Club with Feliciano Lopez in what will be his first taste of action since undergoing surgery in January.
Next week’s Fever-Tree Championships represent the first tentative steps towards resurrecting a career which Murray feared was over due to a chronic hip condition.
Such was the pain Murray was in he considered quitting the sport on more than one occasion.
Still don’t believe Andy Murray is playing doubles at the Fever-Tree Championships @QueensTennis, 17-23 June? He can tell you himself … 😀 (Tickets – https://t.co/09QdzCMaQV) pic.twitter.com/XNzcRVlIh1 — Fever-Tree Championships (@QueensTennis) June 5, 2019
So the 32-year-old Scot is relaxed about his prospects of returning to anywhere near the heights which saw him win three grand-slam singles titles.
“There were a number of times over the last 18 months where I did want to stop, I didn’t want to play any more, I was getting no enjoyment out of tennis at all,” he said.
“Now, I like playing tennis. I’m a fan of the sport, I played it as a kid and I want to keep playing if I can.
“I didn’t know how I was going to feel if I went and had the operation but it’s been brilliant, completely life-changing for me from where I was.
Now THIS is the most wonderful time of the year! 🌱😎#QueensTennis pic.twitter.com/0w0vqDVhYs — Fever-Tree Championships (@QueensTennis) June 16, 2019
“Yes it would be nice to be winning Wimbledon and things like that, but hardly anyone gets the opportunity to do that, and there are loads of players who still love and enjoy the sport without winning the biggest competitions.
“I would hope that I would be able to deal with that and enjoy it.”
Murray and Lopez will face Colombian top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah when the tournament gets under way.
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel when I get back on the court, but I feel lucky, I feel relaxed, I didn’t expect to be in this position,” added Murray.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there but I don’t know what to expect. I’m not putting any expectations on myself because just being out on a tennis court again, and being comfortable and pain free, is enough.
“I’ll enjoy competing. I enjoyed practising, hitting tennis balls, doing all the things I couldn’t do even a few months ago, so we’ll see what happens.”
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