Before Roger Federer started larking around in a kilt, Andy Murray played a competitive enough set of tennis against the Swiss master to suggest he could be properly back in the new year.
In front of his own people, 11,000 of them in the SSE Hydro Arena, Murray appeared on court for the first time since Wimbledon and showed that he has not forgotten how to hit a tennis ball.
The 30 year-old Scot moved with less than sublime ease, but showed that he can still run when he needs to.
Roger Federer played one game in the second set in a kilt, which was actually a woman’s dress
The Swiss star won the game 40-15 before giving the dress back to the grateful spectator
The Swiss master was game for a laugh but wasn’t ready to give anything to Murray
Murray played the final few points of the championship tie break in a patriotic hat
Murray let a young spectator play two shots against the eight-time Wimbledon champion
His pre-match assessment that he was playing at 75-80 per cent looked about right as he nominally managed an to take the second set against Federer in this match for UNICEF and local children’s charities.
‘I felt better than I expected and thought I did okay,’ was his verdict after losing the first set. There was some hobbling around the baseline between points, but in the rhythm of the rallies he at least looked recognisable as the conquering player of a year ago.
Earlier, in his first real update since his late withdrawal from the US Open, Murray discussed the chances of making a planned comeback at January’s Brisbane International: ‘I hope I’m there, things have been going pretty well so far in the rehab, but you take each week at it comes, you have setbacks and then things come on quite quickly as well.
Murray was greeted to huge applause as he walked on court at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow
Murray was making his first public appearance on a tennis court since mid-July at Wimbledon
Murray did not appear as agile as usual but still managed to stretch himself into the corners
Federer stretches to meet a return on the volley as he breezes to a one-set lead over Murray
Murray was in jovial mood but was still competitive enough to deject at his poorer shots
‘I’ve been training for a few weeks now, some days I’ve felt great, some days not so good. I’ll come back when I’m ready and 100 per cent fit. I made probably a bit of mistake trying to get ready for the US Open but it was the last Major of the year and I wanted to give it a go.’
Asked how he has been feeling he replied: ‘I’ve spent more time in the gym with my physios than I have on the tennis court, but the last 10 days, I’ve been on the court an hour-and-a-half, two hours, most days.’
He believes that ultimately he will be able to compete at full tilt again.
‘I believe I will, yes. You never know how you’re going to come back from injuries, but I have been hitting the ball very well practice.
‘It’s just that there is a difference between that 75-80 per cent practice and going flat out at 100 per cent for two and a half or three hours. I can’t say for certain, but I think I’ll be able to come back just fine.’
Federer continued his early dominance by winning a game while wearing a spectator’s dress
Federer and Murray both signed the dress for the lady before she retook her seat
A young spectator was given two points against Federer, but lost both of them
Murray put his own bit of fancy dress on as the match came to a close with a special tie break
Murray has been vague about the exact nature of his hip problem – something he is entitled to be as an individual athlete – and is still reluctant to give too much detail.
‘There are a few things going on in my hip that I don’t need to talk about here.
‘ I spoke to a bunch of specialists. Surgery was not recommended for me and obviously that’s great. You never know how you’re going to come back from surgery. If you can go a conservative route it’s better.’
He confirmed that he still intends to go to America for some kind of winter training block, but will alter his normal schedule.
‘My plan has been to do a couple of weeks in Miami and then go to Australia very early, much earlier than I have done in the past. kIf I can go there a little bit earlier to get used to the conditions, a bit sooner than some of the other players, that might help level it up a little bit for me.’
A fan in the SSE Hydro holds up her special banner showing brothers Andy and Jamie
The 11,000 spectators used torches on their mobile phones to create a star-like atmosphere
Murray and Roger Federer pose for a selfie on the court at the arena before their match
Federer shared an image of shortbread baked by Murray’s granny and a can of Irn Bru
While the score should not have too much attention paid to it – the deciding tiebreak saw him don a ginger wig at 5-7 – Murray must have been pleased with the way he moved after four months away from the match court.
If anything his movement got better as it went on and he seemed to trust his troublesome hips more than at the start.
He said afterwards: ‘I was just really happy to be out here again. I thought it went pretty well. For a first match in that long it was great. I felt pretty good – not perfect, but moving in the right direction.’
Federer, who next week has the more serious business of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals in London, was made to work hard for plenty of points and seemed impressed. ‘I was pleased to see Andy playing so well,’ he said.