Fever Tree Championships 2018 preview: 4 things to watch out for

How will Andy Murray fare on his return to competitive tennis?

Andy Murray lifting the Queen's Club title in 2016

Nearly a year has passed since Murray last competed on the ATP Tour, with the former world No.1 sidelined due to a major hip injury. It will be interesting to see how the hip copes, given the severity of the injury and the arduous nature of his recovery process. He had planned to play at last year’s US Open and practised at the event, until a last-minute withdrawal. He hoped to play in Brisbane and Melbourne this year but pulled out claiming his hip had not fully healed. The setbacks continued, as the Scot recently withdrew from the Libema Open grass-court tournament, which should have been his return to the men’s game. These continual delays show the injury is delicate and so we might not see Murray at his best until later in the year.

Another interesting thing to look out for is the five-time Queen's champion’s style of play. During his career, Murray had a strategy of engaging in long and tiring rallies, attempting to wear the opponents down. This style of tennis has consequently affected his body, resulting in the hip injury. We could, therefore, see a change in Murray’s playing methods for the remainder of his career, with shorter and more aggressive points. The double Wimbledon champion could be on the hunt for a coach too, as he is yet to replace Ivan Lendl.