Greg Rusedski: I hope Andy Murray surprises us again, but…

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Andy Murray looking back

Greg Rusedski is hopeful that Andy Murray can still produce “great things”, but says there are still question marks over whether or not he will return to “the very top” again.

Former world No 1 Murray underwent hip surgery in January and only made his comeback during the grass-court season, but he opted to sit out Wimbledon as he was not yet fully fit.

He then featured in a couple of hard-court tournaments in North America and is set to play in next week’s US Open, which will be his first Grand Slam event since Wimbledon 2017.

Rusedski admits it will be tough for three-time Grand Slam winner Murray to play at the same level he did before the injury.

“He’s done incredibly well having been away from the game for a year, having back surgery and then hip surgery,” he told Press Association Sport.

“It is tough to come back. He’s looking half a step slower and the way he plays, his movement is key.

“He showed a lot of improvement winning three matches in Washington. But at the moment it’s playing then a week off, playing then a week off, so that says to me he’s not fully fit and still a work in progress.

“Will he ever get that movement back, where it once was? He’s hitting the ball great, he’s serving well, but it’s that movement aspect. No matter how good you are it’s very hard to get back to where you once were.

“He’s had an incredible career, now he’s got to go and play on his own terms for as long as he wants. Like Lleyton Hewitt, he had surgeries but he loved the game so much he kept going.

“I hope I’m wrong, I hope he surprises us again and can do great things but physically will he get back to where he needs to be? He can still play to a good level but will he be satisfied not being at the very top?”

Andy Murray

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