Andy Murray has made a tentative return to the court following the hip surgery that he hopes could save his tennis career.
The two-time Wimbledon champion posted a video of himself rallying with a wall at the back of an outdoor court on Instagram, including the caption: “It’s a start.”
Murray, a winner of three grand slam titles, had hinted at retirement before going out of the Australian Open in the first round in January as he struggled to deal with ongoing pain from a long-standing hip problem.
At the time, he confessed that the surgery could end his career, but that it would also give him the chance to enjoy a better quality of life.
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However, since undergoing hip resurfacing, he has spoken with a cautious optimism about his future in the sport, with doubles star Bob Bryan having recovered from a similar injury to return to professional tennis. Murray described himself as “pain-free,” though rated his chances of competing at Wimbledon this year at less than half.
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Speaking to CNN in March, Murray explained that he had nothing to prove, but wanted to prolong his career for his own pleasure. “I want to try and see if it’s something I’m able to do,” he said. “[Tennis] brings me happiness and I enjoy it a lot.
“If I’m able to, I will try. It’s not about proving anything to anybody or trying to achieve a certain result or try and win Wimbledon again. It’s not about that. It’s about doing something that I love doing and not being in pain whilst I’m doing it.
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“I am a lot happier than I was certainly two months before the operation,” he added, referring to the hip resurfacing surgery he underwent in January. “I have no pain in my hip any more. I was in pain for a long time.
“The rehab is slow and it’s been going pretty well and I just need to wait and see how things progress. If it’s possible, I would certainly love to compete again.”
