Andy Murray will come to Wimbledon this year still believing he can win it – even with an artificial hip. The two-time champion was told in 2018 that he would never be able to play competitive tennis again after a series of failed surgeries.

But despite being ranked 51st in the world and already 35, the Scot is confident he can lift the famous trophy once again.

“It’s part of the motivation to always be out there competing,” he said. “I know, obviously, it’s going to be an incredibly hard thing to do, but I still believe I have great tennis in me. I know it’s going to be even harder to win Wimbledon than it was five or so years ago. six years, but yeah, I still believe in it. I’m still working and training as hard as I can to try to achieve that goal.

Murray’s comments come just weeks after his sad admission that the difference between him and Rafael Nadal’s motivations to play through injuries is that the Spaniard is still in contention for Grand Slams. “[My motivation] comes from enjoying the sport, loving the sport. My situation is a bit different from his, with the surgery I had,” Murray told the ATP website.

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Another Grand Slam winner battling injury is set to join them at the All England Club sooner than expected after Serena Williams pulled out of Eastbourne International’s doubles semi-final.

She was expected to play her third match alongside Ons Jabeur, but the pair announced their withdrawal from the event after the Tunisian suffered what was described in the official statement as an “injury right knee”.

Williams received a singles wildcard at Wimbledon after last playing competitively at last year’s tournament when she limped off in the first round after injuring her left hamstring.