Andy Murray could return before grass-court season

Three-time Grand Slam winner planning to return to practice courts towards end of March

By Raz Mirza

Image: Britain's Andy Murray could be back sooner than expected, according to Sky sources

Andy Murray's rehabilitation from hip surgery is going so well that the former world No 1 could return to action sooner than expected, according to Sky sources.

Murray has been targeting a return for the grass-court season having been sidelined since last year's Wimbledon due to a hip problem that he had surgery on in the new year, after breaking down again just before the start of the Australian Open.

Murray, who turns 31 in May, has been back in the gym working on the bike, Versaclimber, weights and regular pilates classes, with plans of returning to the court towards the end of March and the intention of being match ready in time for the grass season.

And with his rehabilitation from injury going better than expected, he could be back sooner than Wimbledon.

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Image: Murray is expected to hit the practice courts towards the end of March with rehabilitation going better than expected

The signs appear to be very positive for the Scot, who has indicated his intentions of travelling overseas for warm weather training in the next couple of months, although it is dependent on when he returns to the court.

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Murray's likely comeback tournament looked set to be Queen's, which begins on June 18, although there are ATP Tour events on grass the previous week in Germany and Holland, while he could even choose to play one or more of the lower-tier British tournaments.

Murray has slipped to 21st in the rankings and will lose the British No 1 spot on Monday for the first time in a decade when his points for winning last year's Dubai Championships drop off, allowing Kyle Edmund to leapfrog him.

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He is likely to be ranked outside the top 100 when he does finally return to action, although he will be able to enter tournaments using a protected ranking.

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