ANDY MURRAY made a winning return to tennis last night but admitted: No-one should lose to a guy with a metal hip!
In his first match for seven months, Muzza banished his injury concerns and enjoyed a solid 6-2 6-2 victory over Liam Broady on the first day of the Battle of the Brits.
It was an encouraging display from the former world No1, who had a metal hip implant in January 2019 and hasn’t played since November’s Davis Cup when he hurt his pelvic bone.
In the build-up, there had been plenty of banter and pranks between the players on WhatsApp.
As he made a return to training, the two-time Wimbledon champion tried in vain to downplay his chances, mischievously and incorrectly suggesting he had an abs issue.
Ahead of this latest comeback, Murray even joked: “If I lost to someone with a metal hip, I’d be disappointed.”
Well, there were no signs of rustiness or any mercy shown to Broady since their 2016 first-round meeting at Wimbledon.
The 33-year-old moved well, returned confidently and hit one outrageous one-handed half volley winner as he claimed his first victory in the Tim Henman group.
SURREAL
At a time when players should have been preparing for Wimbledon, it was strange to watch the leading British men playing indoors and behind-closed-doors with unspecified prize money on the table.
These really are surreal times. There were HawkEye line judges, players picking up their balls and Murray’s coach Jamie Delgado acted as an extra ball boy.
Everybody involved in the tournament at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre took a knee for eight seconds before their matches in support of the Black Lives Matter cause.
This national singles and double event is the brainchild of doubles star Jamie Murray, restarting the British championships which were axed 17 years ago.
Jamie’s tournament director and organisation skills should be applauded given the global pandemic and particularly at short notice.
But it was at the expense of his tennis as he and partner Neal Skupski were beaten 3-6 7-5 11-9 by Broady and Cam Norrie in the opening tie.
The best performance was from British No1 Dan Evans who wiped the floor with Jay Clarke 6-3 6-1 in their first meeting.
Evans, 30, said: “My game is a bit up-and-down. I felt strange being back playing, and mistimed a few balls, but it was good to be out there and getting matches again.
“It has been a terrible time so it’s good to put tennis back on for the people. I moved good. I felt good on the court.
“Jamie has done a great job. I’m thankful for him putting on the event. It felt like a match and didn’t feel like a friendly.”
In the other singles clash yesterday, Kyle Edmund beat James Ward 6-1 6-4.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Draper has pulled out of the six-day event after suffering a pulled stomach muscle. He was replaced by Ryan Peniston.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/tennis/anti-vaxxer-novak-djokovic-issues-grovelling-apology-after-testing-positive-for-coronavirus-following-adria-tour-farce
