Former British No.1 Tim Henman has played down fears that Andy Murray may retire in the near future by saying the current situation of the sport may ironically benefit him.
The three-time grand slam champion hasn’t played a professional match since the Davis Cup finals last November after being sidelined by pelvic bruising. However, he has since said the discomfort he has been experiencing in the groin area could be 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.
Murray’s recent physical blow is the latest of a series to trouble the former world No.1. He has also previously undergone two hip surgeries within as many years in a bid to prolong his career. Despite the setbacks, Henman has refused to write his fellow countryman off just yet. In a recent interview with British media, the 45-year-old believes the current suspension of professional tennis will benefit Murray. All tennis tournaments have been suspended until at least July 13th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He has missed so much tennis but perhaps [the break] will give him the opportunity – if his body and his hip enable him – to play longer, in age terms,” The Guardian quoted Henman as saying. “I remember playing with Agassi after Andre had 18 months out, for very different reasons, but he came back fresh and invigorated to play. He kept going until he was 36.
“In those days that was old for a top tennis player. I stopped when I was 33 and that was pretty old at the time, but with training techniques and injury prevention, players are certainly playing longer.
“You would like to think that if Andy’s body permits and he still has the motivation that I think he does there can still definitely be a few Wimbledons left in him yet.”
Last month Henman shed some light on Murray’s current fitness after watching one of his hitting sessions. Speaking to the Glasgow Times, he said the two-time Olympic champion was ‘really hitting the ball well and he’s building his strength up all the time.’ The comments coincide with what was said by Murray’s coach Jamie Delgardo. Prior to the suspension, Delgardo said he was ‘getting closer’ to his latest return to the Tour.
It remains to be seen when Murray and his rivals will be able to return to action. On Saturday the world of tennis received another blow with the postponement of the WTA Rogers Cup, which was set to take place in August. The men’s tournament, which is set to be hosted in Toronto, is still scheduled to be on.
“You have got to be positive and optimistic that [the US Open in August] can be played but, if it weren’t, I don’t think anyone would be greatly surprised,” Henman said.
Murray has won 46 ATP titles and spent 41 consecutive weeks as world No.1 so far in his career.
