Andy Murray remains anxious over the hip injury which has restricted him to playing just three matches in over 12 months as he prepares to make his latest comeback.
The 31-year-old has missed much of the last year and underwent hip surgery in January to fix the long-running problem.
He played three matches in June at Queens and Eastbourne but withdrew from Wimbledon to ensure he would be fit for the second half of the season.
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Murray, who has now dropped to 838 in the ATP rankings and is the British number 23, will attempt to reignite his career at next weeks Citi Open in Washington and has been drawn against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
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Despite months of rehabilitation the Scot remains nervous regarding his fitness but is aiming for a clean bill of health for the rest of 2018.
Im looking forward to playing. Obviously, not playing a hard-court match for a very long time, theres anxiety there, because of that break.
Once I get out there, after a few games, I should be fine. I just want a prolonged period on the match court and Im looking forward to that.
I want to stay healthy through the end of the year. If I stay fit and healthy Im not worried so much about ranking.
I want to be winning matches and competing against the best players that will build my fitness up quicker than anything I do in the gym.
If I can do that, hopefully Ill be ready to start the 2019 season really well.
Murray has not won a hard court match since overcoming Fernando Verdasco in the final in Dubai in March 2017 – with his last outing on the surface coming in a defeat to Vasek Pospisil at Indian Wells.
The three-time grand slam champion will hope success in Washington will be the springboard to an injury-free rest of the season with the US Open, which starts in late August, at the forefront of his mind.
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Im feeling better than I did during the grass-court season, he added.
More: Tennis
But also I havent played a hard-court match since Indian Wells last year, its a long time, about 18 months, so Ill have to see how my body responds, not just my hip, but the rest of my body as well but Ive felt pretty good in practice.
It (the hip) is feeling better all the time. Its tough to put a number (a percentage) on it.
It takes time when youve been out for a long period to get the match sharpness back.
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Andy Murray remains anxious over the hip injury which has restricted him to playing just three matches in over 12 months as he prepares to make his latest comeback.
The 31-year-old has missed much of the last year and underwent hip surgery in January to fix the long-running problem.
He played three matches in June at Queens and Eastbourne but withdrew from Wimbledon to ensure he would be fit for the second half of the season.
More: Tennis
Murray, who has now dropped to 838 in the ATP rankings and is the British number 23, will attempt to reignite his career at next weeks Citi Open in Washington and has been drawn against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
Advertisement Advertisement
Despite months of rehabilitation the Scot remains nervous regarding his fitness but is aiming for a clean bill of health for the rest of 2018.
Im looking forward to playing. Obviously, not playing a hard-court match for a very long time, theres anxiety there, because of that break.
Once I get out there, after a few games, I should be fine. I just want a prolonged period on the match court and Im looking forward to that.
I want to stay healthy through the end of the year. If I stay fit and healthy Im not worried so much about ranking.
I want to be winning matches and competing against the best players that will build my fitness up quicker than anything I do in the gym.
If I can do that, hopefully Ill be ready to start the 2019 season really well.
Murray has not won a hard court match since overcoming Fernando Verdasco in the final in Dubai in March 2017 – with his last outing on the surface coming in a defeat to Vasek Pospisil at Indian Wells.
The three-time grand slam champion will hope success in Washington will be the springboard to an injury-free rest of the season with the US Open, which starts in late August, at the forefront of his mind.
Advertisement Advertisement
Im feeling better than I did during the grass-court season, he added.
More: Tennis
But also I havent played a hard-court match since Indian Wells last year, its a long time, about 18 months, so Ill have to see how my body responds, not just my hip, but the rest of my body as well but Ive felt pretty good in practice.
It (the hip) is feeling better all the time. Its tough to put a number (a percentage) on it.
It takes time when youve been out for a long period to get the match sharpness back.
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