Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski has cast doubts on Andy Murray’s chances of winning a Grand Slam title once again. The Briton underwent hip surgery on Tuesday and is hoping to make his return to action at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships.
Murray, who hasn’t played an official ATP match since losing to Sam Querrey of the United States in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, has been troubled with a hip injury since last year’s French Open. He was expected to make his comeback at the Brisbane International, but pulled out of the tournament at the last minute citing excruciating pain in his hip.
After having a detailed discussion with his team, former World No. 1 Murray decided to have hip surgery in Melbourne. After the surgery, he posted an optimistic message on his Twitter account, targeting a return at his home Major, Wimbledon at the end of June. However, Rusedski doesn’t seem to be so positive about Andy’s chances of winning a Slam after his return from hip surgery.
“If he can get fit, he’s got a shot to get back into the top 100, then top 50 and build his game back,” said Rusedski.
“But it’s going to take a long while and I wish him all the best because hip surgeries are something that’s difficult to manage.
“I don’t think he will win another Grand Slam, just because of the physical issues he’s had, but I hope he proves me wrong.
“I think he’s done everything he could because usually with a hip problem, you take six months, you hope it comes back good, it didn’t come back the way he’d want so he had no choice but to have the hip surgery and then that’s probably another six months of recuperation.”
Rusedski was also asked to compare Murray’s situation with Roger’s Federer 2016 injury layoff to which he replied.
“I think Andy’s got a lot more to overcome to be frank,” Rusedski said. “If you could look at Federer, physically he’s had one surgery in his life, which was a minor meniscus knee surgery and he actually injured his knee in the bathtub of all places when he was bathing his kids, so it wasn’t tennis related.”
“If you look at Murray physically, he’s had a lot more difficulties. He’s had back surgery already, his hip surgery, he’s had all sorts of injuries to cope with so for Murray I think it’s going to be a big challenge but he’s one of our greatest sportsmen we’ve ever had in this country and I hope he can come through it, but it’s going to be a big ask.”
