Andy Murray gears up for Wimbledon with Queen’s doubles title, alongside partner Feliciano Lopez just five months after career-saving surgery

ANDY MURRAY made a glorious comeback to top-level tennis as he won the Queen’s doubles title – five months after thinking his career was over.

The Scot underwent career-saving hip resurfacing surgery in January just weeks after breaking down in tears in front of the world’s media when he revealed how much daily pain he was suffering.

Yet despite everybody in sport thinking he was completely finished as an elite performer, Murray came to the Fever-Tree Championships this week and once again lifted silverware above his head.

The star said afterwards:

“I’ve enjoyed it, I felt very relaxed at the beginning of the week, then I started getting more nervous as the week continued and my competitive instincts were kicking in.

“My hip felt great, there was no pain.”

It is one of the greatest comebacks in recent years – certainly among one of the biggest feats on an already stellar CV – and it underlines the sheer bloody-mindedness at the heart of Murray’s psyche.

Murray and his Spanish partner Feliciano Lopez beat Brit Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram 7-6 5-7 10-5 in a pulsating final watched by a capacity Centre Court crowd.

It was Murray’s first doubles success for eight years and, with no signs of physical distress from his metal hip implant, he will surely be among the favourites to win the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon next month.

Understandably veteran Lopez was extremely tired heading into this doubles final – particularly as he only had about 30 minutes’ rest backstage after his marathon singles triumph.

“BEST MOMENT”

The 37-year-old wildcard entry banked £380,000 in prize money when he emerged the 6-2 6-7 7-6 winner over Frenchman Gilles Simon after almost three hours of combat – the oldest champion at Queen’s Club in the Open Era.

Even though he had lifted that heavy trophy two years ago on the same court, he described this result as the “best moment of his career”.

Lopez admitted he was shattered but his adrenaline would get him through his next assignment.

Yet it was no surprise he often refused to sit down during the changeovers for fear of not getting up again.

Early on Murray’s service game was put under pressure and he was broken in the first set to hand Ram and Salisbury an advantage.

Thankfully for them Salisbury then shanked a half-volley long on set point.

In the tie-break, the experience and guile of Murray and Lopez proved pivotal as they came from 5-1 down and even saved a set point before taking an entertaining first set when Ram missed an otherwise routine volley.

Murray and Lopez wasted three break points in the seventh game of the second set and were kicking themselves in frustration when the match went to a Champions’ tie-break.

Yet Lopez, despite all the tennis in his legs, somehow produced when it mattered the most, hitting five straight winners in a row to give Murray a golden return.