Murray eyes Wimbledon return after hip surgery

Three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray has undergone hip surgery in Australia and is determined to return to action in time for Wimbledon.

The 30-year-old Briton, who has not played a competitive match for six months and last week withdrew from the Australian Open, posted an update on Facebook.

A little post op photo. I'm feeling really positive and looking forward to starting rehab. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support the last few days.. It really helps. And everyone try and find a partner who looks at you the way @jamie__delgado looks at me ????????????????

A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray) on Jan 8, 2018 at 8:06am PST

“Today I underwent successful right hip surgery at the St Vincent Hospital in Melbourne,” Murray said.

“I’d like to thank Dr John O’Donnell and all of the staff for looking after me. I look forward to returning to competitive tennis during the grasscourt season.

“Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes and support over the last few days. I’ll come back from this.”

Five-time Australian Open finalist Murray accepts he will have to reduce his workload on court.

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“I’m certainly not going to be putting in the same amount of tournaments and effort to try to get to No. 1,” he told British media. “I’ll certainly be more considered in the amount of tournaments I play, even though I play a conservative schedule anyway in comparison to most of the players on the tour.

“I’ll be playing a reduced schedule, and then focusing more on trying to win major events and big tournaments rather than trying to achieve certain ranking goals.”

Murray said he can get himself back to “95 per cent of my best.”

“I believe that’s enough to compete at the highest level,” he added. “No question.”

A little reminder of what a fully fit @andy_murray can do…

We hope our two-time singles champion gets well soon ???? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/2XICp54pTB

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) January 4, 2018

Murray, who ended 2016 as world No.1, has slipped to 19th in the rankings.

Former world No.1 Boris Becker believes a “100 per cent comeback” is possible for Murray, although the German says he might be regretting leaving the surgery so long.

Murray had hoped to avoid going under the knife, saying it would not necessarily achieve a positive outcome, but finally decided it was his only realistic option because he had been in constant pain for six months.

“With a good surgery and a good recovery a 100 per cent comeback is more than possible,” Becker said.

“Lleyton Hewitt had it, Tommy Haas had it, just to mention a few who came back and played strong. I just wish that he had done it earlier.

“Hindsight is always easier. He tried the conservative route but came to the conclusion that the only way back was surgery. If he had done it earlier he could have been back earlier.”