A PAIN-FREE Andy Murray says he is doing everything he can to return to tennis – and could even play at Wimbledon this summer.
But the Scot, who is just five weeks into his rehabilitation following hip resurfacing surgery, is adamant he won’t rush his comeback and admits his chances of playing singles there are “less than 50 per cent”.
“It’s a possibility but it is not an aim,” Murray told reporters at London’s Queen’s Club yesterday. “My goal isn't to be back playing tennis for Wimbledon.
"I want to continue playing. I said that in Australia. The issue is I don't know whether it’s going to be possible.
“It is not my aim but if I could play at Wimbledon, I would love to; of course, it is my favourite tournament to play.”
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Depending how his recovery goes, Murray said he could play doubles at Wimbledon to judge his level.
“It’s a possibility that if I’m not ready to play singles that it might be a way of testing myself out to see how I’m feeling,” he said.
“It’s not something I would do long term but it’s a possible stepping stone to getting back to playing singles again.”
At the Australian Open in January, a tearful Murray admitted Wimbledon would probably be his last tournament because he was in too much pain.
But he then left the door open for a potential return and having decided to have a hip resurfacing operation on January 28, he is well into his rehabilitation, though he is still around a month away from stepping back onto court – and he insists he will not take any risks.
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“If things were going really well and I was continuing to progress but I didn't just feel I was quite ready [for Wimbledon], then surely it makes sense for me to wait and potentially play longer than for one tournament rather than being: 'OK, I need to rush back because it's Wimbledon'. It [could be] a little bit too soon and I screw things up and waste the last five, six months of rehab,” he said.
“This is a big surgery and operation that I’ve had. I need to be smart with that and see how it progresses. So far, it’s been good.
“The main reason for me having the operation was to not be in pain anymore, and I’m not. I’m delighted with that, really happy with that. What happens next, I don’t know exactly. I will do the best I can and see what is possible.”
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