Andy Murray can still make a comeback after surgery, says Bob Bryan

Bob Bryan, who is back playing tennis five months after undergoing the hip operation that Andy Murray is considering, believes the Scot can return to top-flight tennis by following his example.

“I personally think he can do it,” Bryan said here at the Australian Open.

Bryan has been in regular contact with Murray and has recommended to him the New York-based surgeon, Dr Edwin Su, who operated on the 40-year-old American in August. He said that Murray had already spoken to Dr Su.

“Seeing the way Andy Murray is feeling kind of hit a nerve with me,” Bryan said, after winning his first Grand Slam match with his twin brother Mike since last year’s Australian Open. “I would love to see him do a similar surgery, feel the relief that it gives. I think our hips are pretty similar: just worn-down, no cartilage.”

Doubles specialist Bryan said he was on crutches for two weeks after the surgery but felt no pain when he started walking again. “I’m just telling Andy, ‘I feel great, my quality of life is great, practices are going well’. Maybe I’m not 100 per cent yet, but I’m only five months in. The doctors say it’s more like seven or eight months until you feel perfect.”

Like Murray, Bryan had trouble even walking after suffering his injury last year. He tried to avoid surgery but after trying other options, including a stem-cell injection, decided to go down that route.

“I put all my confidence in Dr Su,” added Bryan. “I said, ‘Cut me open’. I felt better after that. It just gave me at least a goal. I didn’t feel like I was on a bad hip any more. It’s called a hip resurfacing, with an artificial implant. It’s a full replacement. It has the bar that goes all the way down the femur but this is more a sports, high-performance, smaller metal implant.”

Bryan said that Murray had been “watching me like a hawk, asking me how I’m feeling after matches, after practices, where I’m at... he’s just trying to gauge how long it would take him, if this procedure is an option”.

Resurfacing involves removing the damaged surface in the hip joint and replacing it with a smooth, artificial film.

Murray, who left here today following his first-round defeat on Monday, said that he would “probably” have the operation, which he hopes would alleviate the pain he has been suffering ever since injuring his hip more than 18 months ago.

However, he also acknowledges that having the surgery might mean he never plays tennis at the top level again.

Of Dr Su, Bryan said: “He’s the only guy who has got professional athletes back to their profession. He’s the only guy that’s got them back to the highest level. He’s done a baseball guy, an NBA guy and a hockey player. No tennis player yet until me has come back.”

However, Bryan acknowledged that playing singles was “a different monster”. He said: “Those guys are really sliding around, killing themselves for four hours. Who knows if this joint would hold up? It’s not going to break, but who knows if you have that little explosiveness needed to be super-quick on the singles court? If you’re a step slow, it’s very exposed out there.”

Bryan said Murray had done much research into hip injuries. “He’s extremely educated on this,” he said. “No one’s done more research about hips, doctors. He knew my doctor inside and out, all the cases. The guy is knowledgeable beyond belief on the hip, on the surgery. He’s going to do what’s best for him. He doesn’t want to be limping any more.”

Bryan said he would not under-estimate Murray in terms of the work he would put into rehabilitation work after surgery. “You look at the great workers in history: Lendl, Courier, Roddick. This guy is maybe even a step up from those guys.

“I think he’s to the point where this is probably his last option. I would love to see him do it just for quality of life. You can sleep, walk, be with your kids, play. It’s frustrating when you can’t put on your shoes.”

Bryan said he had watched Murray play his match here on Monday. “I was choked up when he announced his retirement,” he added.

“I stayed up till three in the morning watching all the tributes on social media.

“It really hit a nerve with me. He’s a special guy. No one has a heart like him.”