Andy Murray is no normal athlete… his remarkable comeback to win the European Open will rank alongside more obvious feats
- It’s too early to say if Andy Murray will challenge for slams but he is on track
- Murray has defied expectations upon his return after having his hip resurfaced
- After what he has endured, European title will be seen as one his best feats
Having witnessed Andy Murray emerge from a Scottish backwater to break the mould of underachieving British tennis I should have known better.
Having seen him break countless opponents over the years by sheer force of will I should have realised that, when his face creased into tears during that famous press conference at the Australian Open, he was not entirely finished, even though he suggested so himself.
His career has been peppered by reminders that this is no normal athlete, one who forced their way into the conversation with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Andy Murray defied expectations to bounce back and secure glory at the European Open
So when American doubles player Bob Bryan returned after having his hip resurfaced I should have been more open to the chance that it would be Murray showing that a singles player could also mount a serious comeback after the same procedure, something never done in tennis before.
Sometimes in life you are happily proved wrong. The European Open is not Wimbledon, the US Open or the Davis Cup final, but it features excellent players.
Murray still has worked to do to get back to the top but he has made extraordinary progress
Coming back to win it from a barely standing start six months ago will rank alongside all of his more obvious feats.
It is too early to say whether he can ultimately challenge for the biggest prizes in a hugely physical sport that requires a man to win seven times in a fortnight over best of five sets.
Yet what seemed an absurd proposition only a matter of weeks ago suddenly looks less fanciful. And this time I will be reserving judgement.