Andy Murray eyeing singles return soon

After winning the doubles title in his comeback tournament, Andy Murray is hopeful of a singles return.

The former world No.1 completed a remarkable return from career-saving hip surgery just five months ago with victory in the doubles at Queen’s Club alongside Feliciano Lopez.

It was Murray’s third ATP career doubles title and first since 2011.

Before the event, the two-time Wimbledon champion suggested he would focus on doubles until after the US Open, which starts at the end of August.

But following a successful and, crucially, pain-free week in London, Murray is considering pushing his singles return date forward.

“If I keep progressing, I would like to try to play singles,” he said.

“I think I have a couple of options after Wimbledon – either I continue with doubles but start training and practising singles through the US Open swing, and then try and maybe play singles after that.

“Or I take a longer break post-Wimbledon of maybe, let’s say, a month or six weeks, to get myself ready for singles, and then try and play close to the US Open time.

“But I don’t care really either way. It would be nice to play at the US Open but if I don’t – look, I got so much enjoyment and happiness after winning a first-round doubles match here that, you know, that’s enough.”

It seemed at Queen’s that was not enough, though. The Scot, who was close to retiring in January as he was struggling to walk without pain, let alone play tennis, strolled off with the silverware at his first attempt back.

Murray and Lopez – who won the singles title less than an hour earlier – beat Britain’s Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram 7-6(6) 5-7 [10-5] in the final.

Mothers Pride. pic.twitter.com/lgVrcR5mKD

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) June 23, 2019

Murray will play Eastbourne alongside Brazilian Marcelo Melo this week, before contesting Wimbledon with Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Murray also hopes to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon – but is yet to find a partner. World No.1 singles player Ash Barty and world No.1 doubles player Kristina Mladenovic have both declined an invitation to play.

Hardest decision I had to make in my career! But my team thought that to commit 100% in all 3 events at @Wimbledon would have been too much! https://t.co/171hlxKAp9

— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) June 23, 2019