ANDY Murray is targeting a return to competitive action in Monte Carlo next week after making his first appearance on court for a month in a charity match against Roger Federer in Zurich.
The world No 1 has suffered with shingles and illness since the turn of the year and was forced to withdraw from the Miami Open in the middle of March after injuring his elbow.
Murray missed Great Britain’s exit from the Davis Cup against France over the weekend but kept up his promise to play against Federer in ‘The Match for Africa 3’ on Monday night.
The 29-year-old lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) against in-form Federer yet the result was far from the most important thing for Murray, with the ATP clay court season starting at the Monte Carlo Open next Monday.
Murray said: “Monte Carlo starts in a week, so I’m hoping, if I keep progressing as I have with the elbow, to play. If not then I just need to stay patient and I’ll try the following week. I’m getting there, I just have to go slowly.”
Murray was diagnosed with shingles following his shock fourth-round exit from the Australian Open in January but insisted he was fully recovered when he returned to action in Dubai in February.
He won that tournament but then suffered another surprise defeat to Canada’s Vasek Pospisil at Indian Wells on March 12 – his last appearance before picking up the elbow knock.
“I enjoyed it,” Murray said after his light-hearted clash against Federer. “I haven’t played a match for five or six weeks so to come out and play in front of this crowd against Roger, I appreciate him asking me to come and do this.
“I was trying to get it to a third set, I just couldn’t quite do it.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here