Andy Murray took part in an exhibition match against Roberto Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi in December, but was visibily struggling. Martin Dokoupil / EPA
Andy Murray took part in an exhibition match against Roberto Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi in December, but was visibily struggling. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

Andy Murray making 'very slow' progress but Wimbledon return remains the target



Andy Murray says he is "getting closer" to playing again following a frustratingly long injury lay-off and hopes to be fit enough to target a third Wimbledon title.

The former world No 1 has not played competitively since last year's Wimbledon, undergoing hip surgery at the turn of the year.

With Wimbledon fast approaching, Murray, who has slipped to 47th in the world, said he had returned to training and playing the grass court season remained his aim.

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"It's been very slow," he said in a video on The Guardian newspaper's website. "I've been out getting close to a year now, which is a lot longer than I think me and any of my team kind of expected at the beginning but I'm getting closer to playing again.

"I've started training a few days ago. I'm hoping to make my comeback during the grass court season."

Murray, who has won two Wimbledon titles, said he is hoping to play at the grand slam event, which starts on July 2.

"I'm hoping I'll be there but Roger Federer has obviously got a phenomenal record on grass," said Murray. "He'll definitely be up there as one of the favourites. You never know. It depends a little bit on the draw."

Murray announced his planned return to the ATP Tour would be in the Libema Open in the Netherlands, starting next Monday.

The 31-year-old is still on the entry list on the tournament's official website, but can pull out at any time before the event begins.

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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.