Andy Murray has offered a fitness update on his hip after a few weeks of being out of the news at last.
The 36-year-old has been a hot topic for the media this year, with his faltering form and recent comments sparking mass debate over when his retirement might come.
Affording himself some relief by detailing his plans to play at Wimbledon and the Olympics, he has now dispelled worries over his injury issues too.
After all, the manner in which he made his miraculous return to the sport is still questioned by many. It marks a truly superhuman feat that he is playing at all, let alone still competing at the top of the game.
Andy Murray provides fitness update
Speaking to The Times, the Scotsman offered updates on everything from Roland-Garros to the Olympics, detailing his plans for the rest of 2024 as retirement rumours continue to swirl.
However, it only really matters how he feels in himself as to whether he continues, which will likely rest on his hip.
Having had it somewhat fixed in 2019 after struggling for years with injury, he has now provided a fitness update in the aforementioned report.
He notes: ‘No one knew exactly whether it would last a couple of years, ten years or whatever because there wasn’t at that stage anyone to look at that had gone on to try to compete at the highest level.
‘But it’s been amazing. Obviously it’s not perfect. I’d much rather have a normal hip there, but it’s also significantly better than how my hip was before I had the operation. There’s no pain in the hip at all. It just doesn’t move like a normal hip unfortunately.
‘I have a scan every year — initially it was every six months — just to check and show how it’s doing. It’s also a consideration when you’re thinking about your future, as well, that the hip feels really good just now, but I could just play until my hip can’t [go on] any more and that would be it. I’d rather not end that way but right now the hip has been good in all the scans and everything.’
Clay Court season could benefit Andy Murray
Having struggled at the start of 2024, despite showing glimpses of the old Murray, it will not be long before Clay Court season rolls around.
Then, there is perhaps a true opportunity for the legendary veteran to strut his stuff once again on a surface with proven lower injury rates.
One report from the National Institute of Health details why this is the case: ‘Probably due to a lower frictional resistance on these particular surfaces, when compared to hard courts.’
That is, despite it actually being statistically his worst surface, boasting just a 68.61% win rate. Given his form, it is unlikely that he will make any significant positive alteration to that figure in the coming months, but the respite it will afford his body will certainly be welcomed as he seeks to build up to those two other tournaments.
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