Video: Andy Murray hits a brick wall on tennis return

He wasn’t facing Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal, but for British tennis star Andy Murray hitting balls against a brick wall is good progress as he recovers from surgery.

After many injury problems the 31-year-old went under the knife in January to have a hip resurfacing operation in an attempt to continue his tennis career and improve his day-to-day life.

The three-time grand slam champion and former world No.1 said in early March that he was now “pain-free” after his hip surgery and this week he picked up a racket.

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In a video posted on Instagram Murray hit balls against a brick wall and included the caption: “It’s a start.”

In January at the Australian Open grand slam Murray said that his tennis career could be over because of his injury issues. He also announced that he was tentatively planning to retire after Wimbledon this summer.

However, in March he told the BBC that rehab is going well but he is under no pressure to return to the court.

He said last month: “I want to continue playing, I said that in Australia. The issue is I don’t know whether it’s possible.

“The operation went well. I’m feeling good and walking around pain free - which hasn’t been the case for pretty much 18 months, two years.

“That was the main reason for having it done. I’m happy with how that’s going and day to day things I’m doing are more enjoyable now.”

Speaking about a potential return to the court the two-time Wimbledon champion added: “I have to wait and see. I’m not allowed to start doing any high-impact movement for the first four months after the surgery and it is only then when I can see if I can compete at any level.

“Whether that is playing top ten, that is unlikely, but getting to the top 50, top 100, might be possible. I don’t feel any pressure to come back, I don’t feel pressure to play. If it allows me to play that’s brilliant.”