Andy Murray doubles performance offers no guarantee of singles return, legend warns
Andy Murray making a good comeback in the doubles is not an accurate barometer of his chances of his potential success in singles, John McEnroe has warned.
Murray made a stunning return to competitive tennis at Queen’s, winning the doubles with Feliciano Lopez after the best part of two years out with a hip injury.
He subsequently lost in the first round at Eastbourne when partnering Marcelo Melo, but he will test his surgically repaired hip again in the Wimbledon doubles next month.
McEnroe, though, who had success as both a singles and doubles player in his career, has urged caution with regard fans’ expectations.
“While Andy has talked about being pain free, doubles is obviously a different animal to singles,” McEnroe explained.
“Best of five is different to best of three with a third set tie-breaker. But it was nice to see him eager and into it and looking relatively healthy.
“You can’t really determine how the body reacts if you start playing singles matches, or if you are on hard courts instead of grass.
When you hit a worldy and go max power on the celebration but the points still going…… @andy_murray #tennis #FeverTreeChampionships pic.twitter.com/95nAc8ssyX
— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) June 20, 2019
“But it looked very promising [at Queen’s] and that is great. And I think everyone wants him to come back and then be able to leave on his own terms.
“He’s covering half the court and not moving the same way but I think everyone was very happy to see he has made some real progress.”
However, McEnroe, like everyone else, is fascinated by Murray’s return at SW19, and admits he can’t predict how it will play out.
“I think he has a chance to win it [the doubles at Wimbledon] but he could also lose first round,” McEnroe added of Murray’s chances at Wimbledon, where he will partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
“I’m glad he is doing it, feeling it out right now, and we will see what happens.
“But there is no question with the way he plays, and returns, if he is into it competitive-wise, that he could go all the way – but even after that it is totally unpredictable.
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