Andy Murray Considering Singles Return At US Open

NEIL MCLEMAN

Andy Murray claimed he could return to playing singles at the US Open after taking the doubles title at the Fever-Tree Championships on Sunday night.

The Scot feared his career was over before undergoing January hip surgery. But the amazing rate of his recovery – and a return to winning ways at Queen’s Club – saw him raise the prospect of getting back to singles action as early as August.

“I think I have a couple of options after Wimbledon,” he said.

“Either I continue with doubles but start training and practicing singles through the US Open swing, and then try and maybe play singles after that.

“Or I take a longer break post-Wimbledon of maybe a month or six weeks to get myself ready for singles and then potentially play Cincinnati and US Open.

“Those are the two options. I don’t anticipate it would be much longer than that.”

But Murray claimed: “I’m really not bothered about it. If it happens in September or next year or in six weeks, really, I really don’t mind.

“I’m happy with playing tennis and training and having no pain anymore. If I keep progressing, I would like to try to play singles.

“I don’t care, really, either way. I’m just quite happy doing what I’m doing just now and just taking each week as it comes.”

Murray will play in Eastbourne this week with Marcelo Melo and then play Wimbledon with Pierre-Hugues Herbert – and he is targeting more silverware.

“Why not?” he said. “I could do ok.”

But he is still looking for a mixed doubles partner as he revealed France’s Kristina Mladenovic had joined Ashleigh Barty in turning him down.

“I’m getting a bit tight about asking now!” Murray said.

“I’d be up for either the Williams sisters, but they are both very busy.

“They normally play doubles as well.

“I appreciate it’s very hard to go deep in the singles as well.”