Henman Expects Good Performance From Murray In Melbourne

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 3rd January 2014

ExxonMobil Qatar ATP Open Tennis tournament in Doha

Henman Expects Good Performance From Murray In Melbourne

epa04005323 Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball to Florian Mayer of Germany during the ExxonMobil Qatar ATP Open Tennis tournament match at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, 01 January 2014. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Tim Henman is one player backing Andy Murray to make a successful return to tennis after his September back surgery. And with the Scot now ready to polish his Australian Open training in Melbourne, former British great Henman believes the time is right for a Murray move on the ATP.

“He’s got lots of challenges to overcome,” Henman told British media. “One is the surgery, another will be getting back into the rhythm of tournament play and match play. Andy’s had many hurdles to get over, but this is a different one. It’s not always easy coming back from surgery – and back surgery is quite a major one.”

Murray lost a lead of a set and 3-0 in his second round match in Doha this week, exiting to match-tough German Florian Mayer and boarding a flight of 14 hours to Australia which might well have become a challenge to his back.

Murray will need ensuing days to get used to what are reported to be some of the fastest conditions in years on the hard-courts of Melbourne Park, where he has lost three of the last four finals.

“After the training, I always expect him to play well, “said Henman, who warned: “There is a very large variable this time and that’s the surgery. He’s looking at the next five years. If the results don’t happen in the first three or six months and there are a few niggles along the way, then that’s the reality of where he’s at.”

Henman said that these things cannot be rushed: “It would be unrealistic to suddenly think it’s going to be 100 per cent.”

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Atp, Australian Open, Florian Mayer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tim Henman