Three-time runner-up Andy Murray said he felt freer on court for the first time in 18 months after back surgery as he made a winning start to the Australian Open on Tuesday.
The Wimbledon champion swept into the second round with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 rout of Japan’s Go Soeda as he works his way to full match fitness after surgery last September.
The fourth seed was never in trouble against the 112th-ranked Soeda, breaking the Japanese player’s service seven times and not having a break point against his own serve.
Murray, who lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s Australian final, said it was the best he had felt on court for 18 months, following his surgery in September.
“It’s not every single shot that my back hurt on before, but certain shots I’m a lot freer in the movement just now. I hope that continues,” the Scot said.
“That was the whole point of having the surgery. So if I was still in pain and stiff and sore then I’d be a bit worried about the next few years.
“But I’m hoping it was the right decision. I felt freer today than I did for the last 18 months.”
Murray said he was mindful that some players do not return in the same form after going under the knife.
“Going through surgery is different than going through any other sort of injury or break that you have,” he said.
“A lot of players don’t come back from surgery and are the same player that they are before.
“That’s something that’s always in the back of your mind, something that will worry you a little bit and something you’ll think about.
“You’re just praying that everything is good with the back and you can wake up the next day – even now – and hope that all is good tomorrow.”
The Scot missed the rest of last season after his surgery and his preparations for Melbourne have not been good.
The world number four crashed out in the second round of the Qatar Open to German Florian Mayer, the world number 38, and then went down to veteran Australian Lleyton Hewitt in an exhibition match last Friday.
Last year Murray became the first British man to lift the Wimbledon trophy since Fred Perry in 1936.
The Scot hit 32 winners and only 13 unforced errors to have Soeda under pressure on Hisense Arena, rattling through the first two sets in just 49 minutes.
He has French qualifier Vincent Millot next up.
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
