The return of three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray to competitive tennis could take place as early as next month, but it is an extremely complex situation.
Murray, who hasn’t played on the tour since the Davis Cup in November, has been sidelined from action due to bruising around the pelvic area. Something that has forced him to delay his comeback date numerous times already this season. Now the former world No.1 has admitted that he faces a critical period in the coming weeks, which will determine if he will be able to resume his career without another surgery.
Providing an update on his current fitness, the 32-year-old believes his slow progress this season is linked to his hip resurfacing surgery. A career-saving procedure he underwent at the start of 2019. Currently undergoing training and rehabilitation, the Brit is seeking clarity on what direction he needs to go next. The hope is that he will be able to play in Miami at the end of March, but the possibility of a surgical procedure could end those plans.
“I have not had lots of clarity as to what the issue actually is, because it is difficult to tell,” BBC Sport quoted Murray as saying.
“What I need to do just now is build up in these next couple of weeks to really test it. I will really test the hip out. Hopefully it responds fine.
“I should know by the end of next month whether I’m good to play or not with it. But I think I am now at a point where we’re pretty sure as to what is going on.”
Unfortunately for Murray the options are not as simple as he would like it to be. It is believed that the discomfort he has been experiencing in recent time in the groin area is related to soft tissue growing around his metal hip. The medical term is called heterotopic ossification, which is defined as an abnormal growth of bone in the non-skeletal tissues.
This theory is however hard to establish as it can be difficult to interpret a scan of a metal hip. Leaving Murray in limbo with the hope he will not have to go under the knife for the third time within as many years. If he is required to undergo an operation, he has been warned that the procedure could be delayed due to ongoing growth in his groin. Something will likely rule him out of Wimbledon and even the Olympics.
“The issue is if you try to remove that too early, while it is still active in the process of growing, it just grows straight back,” Murray explained.
“If I have to have that removed because it is what is causing the problem, then that is a pain … It’s not that long an operation really in terms of the rehab and stuff. But it’s just if I wasn’t able to have it until May or whatever, with six to eight weeks’ rehab, then that would mean missing that period.”
Nevertheless, Murray is staying upbeat on his recovery chances with hopes that the issue will naturally settle down. There is no actual damage to his artificial hip at present. Should it do, he has his sight set on playing on the European clay for the first time since the 2017 French Open.
“There’s no reason not to, because I don’t have an injury as such. It’s just whether that settles with time and the body gets used to it, and whether you are able to manage it when playing.” He said.
“I would [then] play on clay, for sure. If physically I am fine and this responds well to the training again, there is no reason for me not to. In many ways, the clay should actually be better for a metal joint because it is softer impact-wise.
“I do want to keep playing. It’s just whether I’m able to or not is the question. I want to play in the Slams again. That’s what excites me and interests me. That is the thing that I have missed over these last few years.”
So far in his career, Murray has won 46 ATP titles and has spent 41 consecutive weeks as world No.1. He is the first British man in history to top the ATP rankings and the only player to successfully defend an Olympic title.
“I might be playing in the next few weeks. That’s what I hope, but over the last couple of years I have become quite pessimistic about time frames and stuff because of what has gone on, and what has been said to me.” He concluded.
