Cast your mind back to January where it looks as though Andy Murray was going to say goodbye to tennis once and for all following his first-round exit from the Australian Open.
In true Murray fashion, he pushed Roberto Bautista Agut but lost in a gruelling five-set encounter just days after the Scot admitted this year could be his last in the sport.
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A hip problem which had dogged him since Wimbledon 2017 is the reason why Murray’s future in tennis is still unclear and it looked like this would finally be the end.
But Murray is no ordinary player.
He’s a man who has managed to compete at the highest level and win three Grand Slams as well as back-to-back Olympic Gold medals in an era with three of the greatest men’s players of all time in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Following surgery on his hip at the end of January, Murray defied the odds once again.
On his competitive return to tennis, Murray won the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon’s annual curtain raiser Queen’s alongside doubles partner Feliciano Lopez.
It’s an outstanding effort when you consider what state Murray was in physically and mentally.
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Murray, 32, did not look like a player who had been diagnosed with early onset arthritis and is in good condition ahead of the 2019 championships at the All England Club.
However, despite the early success of Murray’s hip surgeries there are risks that come with his return.
talkSPORT.com, in association with Betway, has taken a look at the risks involved for Murray that having an operation usually done on over-50s can have on his return to elite level tennis.
Surgery was a last resort for Murray but when you consider he was struggling to do basic day-to-day activities like play with his two daughters and even put on his own socks, it was an avenue you suspected he was always going to pursue.
“There’s no turning back from now,” Winston Kim, a hip surgeon from Manchester Hip and Knee Clinic told Betway.
“It was clearly a very carefully considered decision. He will have had an awareness of the intended benefits of resurfacing.
“If it fails, the next option would be a hip replacement. I’m sure he didn’t take the decision lightly – the vast majority of hip surgeons would be nervous about performing a hip resurfacing because of the potential risks, particularly in such a young, elite athlete.
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The resurfacing involves the implantation of a metal cap onto the ball of the hip joint and a metal socket into the ‘cup’ of the hip joint, which divides opinion among surgeons.
The medical risks of a ‘metal on metal’ procedure are heavily debated, particularly for someone of Murray’s age and status as a top-level tennis player.
“Fit young men who want to get back to impact activity are one sub-group of patients who probably benefit from hip resurfacing, but that’s balanced with the risk of metal wear leading to raised metal ion levels,” said Adam Hoad-Reddick, a hip surgeon at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Manchester.
Murray, 32, is not in the average age for resurfacing, so to make a return to playing tennis at the highest level is uncharted territory.
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“Research says that 90 per cent of runners in their early 50s who undergo hip resurfacing are able to return running,” said Kim. “That’s just runners and I’m not even giving you a time frame, and it’s still just a 90 per cent return.”
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Murray since he turned pro in 2005, he’s determined.
However, Kim is surprised he’s made a return less than five months after surgery.
“Naturally, surgeons are cautious. Lots would say: ‘Take it easy, maybe think about six months’ time,’” Kim said.
“One should consider what the worst-case scenario is. If he rushes his recovery, the danger is that he sprains a muscle around the joint, which results in tearing a muscle. He has to balance those risks, it’s a very difficult call.”
Murray will take comfort from American doubles player Bob Bryan, who described Murray as his ‘bionic brother’.
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Bryan, 41, had his hip resurfaced in August 2018 and won the Miami Open this year.
But perhaps it’s Murray’s return as a doubles player which is the main reason behind his success on his comeback as the fitness requirements are less demanding in the singles game.
There are whispers that he could make a return to men’s singles in time for the US Open in August.
At Wimbledon 2019 he will only play in the men’s doubles tournament which is probably a wise decision considering the injury hell he’s been through for the best part of two years.
Murray will know that he’ll have to take things one step at a time.
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Source: TalkSport.com Tennis
