Former World No. 1 Andy Murray says he could resurrect his singles career at this year’s US Open following a remarkable return to tennis with victory in the men’s doubles at the Queen’s Club tournament on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Scotsman teamed up with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez to clinch a 7-6(8), 5-7, [10-5] win over Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram of the United States.
The three-time Grand Slam champion’s triumph comes after what he described as “life-changing” hip surgery earlier this year.
Murray said that while he had not made up his mind about a return to singles, the US Open would be the tournament where it could happen.
If so, it would be a remarkable turnaround for a man who was tearfully pondering retirement in January.
“I mean, potentially, yeah,” he said when pressed as to whether the US Open — where he won his first Grand Slam title in 2012 — could be the place to resume his singles career.
“But I don’t care, really, either way. Like, 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.
“I don’t have to be getting to the US Open this year and be really competitive and have to win the tournament for me to enjoy it.”
Murray, also a two-time Olympic singles champion, said he had to be mindful about his hip, although he came through the week at Queen’s pain free.
“It’s not just to get back on the court playing singles,” he said.
“It’s to protect my hip for the longer term to make sure that my muscles are in the correct balance so that I’m not impacting the hip in the same spot all of the time.
