Spoiler:
Andy Murray has announced his withdrawal from next week's Libema Open
The 31-year-old said he is 'not quite ready' to return to competitive action
However, he has not ruled out returning from injury during grass-court swing
Murray is back in training after almost a year out and hopes to be at Wimbledon
By MIKE DICKSON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:00 BST, 5 June 2018 | UPDATED: 22:09 BST, 5 June 2018
Andy Murray on Tuesday night admitted defeat in his efforts to return to action next week, while insisting there is still a chance he will play during the grass-court season.
The 31-year-old Scot announced his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland, but did not rule out being fit for the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s nor Wimbledon, which begins on July 2.
‘It is with regret that I won’t be ready to play in Hertogenbosch (Rosmalen),’ he said.
Andy Murray has confirmed his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland +4
Andy Murray has confirmed his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland
However, the Scot is still aiming to make a comeback during the current grass-court season +4
However, the Scot is still aiming to make a comeback during the current grass-court season
Andy Murray reveals he's closing in on playing return in...
Andy Murray is on course for grass season, says upbeat...
Andy Murray set to end months of silence as he eyes a return...
Marco Cecchinato books French Open semi-final berth by...
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‘I was excited to play there for the first time, but I am not quite ready to return. I am still aiming to play in the coming weeks but I want to be 100 per cent when I do return.’
Earlier on Tuesday, during a plug for his car sponsor, he had given a brief update. ‘I’m getting closer to playing again,’ he said. ‘I have started training a few days ago, hoping to make my comeback during the grass-court season.
‘It has been very slow, I’ve been out getting close to a year now which is a lot longer than I expected at the beginning.’
While pointing at Roger Federer as an obvious contender for Wimbledon he added: ‘I’m hoping I will be there.’
As ever through this process, the twice Wimbledon champion has been deliberately vague about the progress of his injury.
At least he is back training, but it is entirely possible that these statements may constitute a triumph of hope over expectation.
Murray has not played since last year's Wimbledon and underwent hip surgery in January +4
Murray has not played since last year's Wimbledon and underwent hip surgery in January
This is, after all, the fourth time since last year’s Wimbledon quarter final that Murray has made late withdrawals.
There was the US Open last September, then the Brisbane International in early January, followed by the Australian Open. Had the recovery gone to plan he would have played one of two recent Challenger events in Glasgow or Loughborough, although he never formally entered either of them.
Decoding his public statements can be a tricky business, such as when the Australian Grand Slam issued an official press release quoting him saying that he was heading back to the UK ‘to assess all the options’. It turned out he would have surgery in Melbourne.
What is clear is that if he has only just resumed training after stepping away from the court last month then he has precious little time to get himself into optimal shape, even on a surface to which he is so naturally attuned.
As a coach who knows Murray well pointed out, his preferred modus operandi has always been to heavily ‘load up’ training and practice-wise before important phases of the season.
Leaving no stone unturned has always been a key component of his mental approach. It remains unclear the extent to which he will be able to prepare fully. And grass is not the easiest surface on which to start back, given the slick nature of the courts in the opening days.
He hopes to be at SW19 for this year's championships having recently resumed training +4
He hopes to be at SW19 for this year's championships having recently resumed training
Expectations should be tempered — as those who bought Rosmalen tickets can already attest.
Yet it is a positive development that he has resumed practice and, as Murray has shown many times before, when he sets his mind to something he can surprise a lot of people.
Serena Williams issued an upbeat message yesterday after her French Open withdrawal of Tuesday, telling her social media followers that an initial meeting with a doctor about her injured pectoral muscle had gone well.
‘The news is actually super exciting so I’m really happy about that,’ she said, prior to receiving the results of an MRI scan.
The 31-year-old said he is 'not quite ready' to return to competitive action
However, he has not ruled out returning from injury during grass-court swing
Murray is back in training after almost a year out and hopes to be at Wimbledon
By MIKE DICKSON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:00 BST, 5 June 2018 | UPDATED: 22:09 BST, 5 June 2018
Andy Murray on Tuesday night admitted defeat in his efforts to return to action next week, while insisting there is still a chance he will play during the grass-court season.
The 31-year-old Scot announced his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland, but did not rule out being fit for the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s nor Wimbledon, which begins on July 2.
‘It is with regret that I won’t be ready to play in Hertogenbosch (Rosmalen),’ he said.
Andy Murray has confirmed his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland +4
Andy Murray has confirmed his withdrawal from the Libema Open in Rosmalen, Holland
However, the Scot is still aiming to make a comeback during the current grass-court season +4
However, the Scot is still aiming to make a comeback during the current grass-court season
Andy Murray reveals he's closing in on playing return in...
Andy Murray is on course for grass season, says upbeat...
Andy Murray set to end months of silence as he eyes a return...
Marco Cecchinato books French Open semi-final berth by...
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Share
‘I was excited to play there for the first time, but I am not quite ready to return. I am still aiming to play in the coming weeks but I want to be 100 per cent when I do return.’
Earlier on Tuesday, during a plug for his car sponsor, he had given a brief update. ‘I’m getting closer to playing again,’ he said. ‘I have started training a few days ago, hoping to make my comeback during the grass-court season.
‘It has been very slow, I’ve been out getting close to a year now which is a lot longer than I expected at the beginning.’
While pointing at Roger Federer as an obvious contender for Wimbledon he added: ‘I’m hoping I will be there.’
As ever through this process, the twice Wimbledon champion has been deliberately vague about the progress of his injury.
At least he is back training, but it is entirely possible that these statements may constitute a triumph of hope over expectation.
Murray has not played since last year's Wimbledon and underwent hip surgery in January +4
Murray has not played since last year's Wimbledon and underwent hip surgery in January
This is, after all, the fourth time since last year’s Wimbledon quarter final that Murray has made late withdrawals.
There was the US Open last September, then the Brisbane International in early January, followed by the Australian Open. Had the recovery gone to plan he would have played one of two recent Challenger events in Glasgow or Loughborough, although he never formally entered either of them.
Decoding his public statements can be a tricky business, such as when the Australian Grand Slam issued an official press release quoting him saying that he was heading back to the UK ‘to assess all the options’. It turned out he would have surgery in Melbourne.
What is clear is that if he has only just resumed training after stepping away from the court last month then he has precious little time to get himself into optimal shape, even on a surface to which he is so naturally attuned.
As a coach who knows Murray well pointed out, his preferred modus operandi has always been to heavily ‘load up’ training and practice-wise before important phases of the season.
Leaving no stone unturned has always been a key component of his mental approach. It remains unclear the extent to which he will be able to prepare fully. And grass is not the easiest surface on which to start back, given the slick nature of the courts in the opening days.
He hopes to be at SW19 for this year's championships having recently resumed training +4
He hopes to be at SW19 for this year's championships having recently resumed training
Expectations should be tempered — as those who bought Rosmalen tickets can already attest.
Yet it is a positive development that he has resumed practice and, as Murray has shown many times before, when he sets his mind to something he can surprise a lot of people.
Serena Williams issued an upbeat message yesterday after her French Open withdrawal of Tuesday, telling her social media followers that an initial meeting with a doctor about her injured pectoral muscle had gone well.
‘The news is actually super exciting so I’m really happy about that,’ she said, prior to receiving the results of an MRI scan.