SERIOUS question marks remain about Andy Murray’s fitness ahead of the Australian Open after he was beaten 6-2 by Roberto Bautista Agut in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi.
The Scot, who is working his way back from hip problems, stepped in after Novak Djokovic’s own Melbourne hopes were plunged into doubt when he was forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship due to pain in his elbow despite surgery.
But Murray was sufficiently happy with how he felt during the contest to stick to his plan to head to his scheduled comeback tournament in Brisbane next week.
The two-time Wimbledon champion left the court in Abu Dhabi and travelled to the airport for a flight to Australia.
Murray has given little away his hip injury or his recovery but delaying his departure to Australia, having originally intended to travel before Christmas, did not send a positive message.
The 30-year-old had planned just to practise with the players competing in the tournament in Abu Dhabi but he answered the organisers’ call following Djokovic’s withdrawal.
That in itself seemed positive, but from the start it was clear Murray was well short of his best.
The limp that was such a talking point at Wimbledon was still very much in evidence and his movement was hampered when dragged out wide to his forehand.
A helpful net cord allowed Murray to get on the board in the fifth game when he had faced points for 5-0, and he did improve in the latter stages.
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