Andre Agassi has tipped Andy Murray to fully recover from back surgery in time to successfully defend his Wimbledon title this summer.
Murray is easing his way back onto the ATP circuit after going under the knife in September and recently suffered a semi-final defeat to rising talent Grigor Dimitrov in Mexico.
But coach Ivan Lendl was encouraged by Murray’s performance despite the result and eight-time grand slam winner Agassi believes the Wimbledon champion looks close to his best.
“I think he’s a step away from winning many more titles,” Agassi told Standard Sport after beating old rival Pete Sampras in an exhibition match at Earls Court.
Murray was knocked out at the quarter-final stage of January’s Australian Open, ending an impressive sequence of four consecutive semi-final appearances down under.
Selfies, push-ups and trick-shots: Andy Murray vs Novak Djokovic at Madison Square Garden
But the Scot was playing in his first grand slam since returning from surgery and drew positives from making Roger Federer work for his place in the last four.
Murray’s rehabilitation since that defeat has gone from strength to strength and Agassi believes he is well-placed to begin his Wimbledon defence in June with a clean bill of health.
“It’s a good start to the year considering what he went through,” continued Agassi, who waited two years for his second grand slam title after winning his breakthrough slam at Wimbledon in 1992.
“I think with a decent clay court season that he can get a little bit of match toughness and he still has a real good shot (at Wimbledon).”
