The long road back – key issues facing Murray four tournaments into his return

Andy Murray lost his opening match at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati to France’s Lucas Pouille on Monday.

Four tournaments into his return from hip surgery, Murray has won four matches and lost three and sits at 375 in the world rankings.

Here, Press Association Sport assesses where the Scot stands in his comeback.

Fitness

The main concern remains Murray’s physical condition and how close to his previous level he will be able to reach. The signs in Washington two weeks ago were positive, with his movement much improved from his first outings on grass. Pouille is a quality player, and Murray pushed him very close after a poor first set, but the former world number one’s shots currently lack the potency they need for him to be able to go toe-to-toe with the best players. He is still having to do a lot of rehab work and teaching his body slowly how to cope with the strain of back-to-back matches.

Patience

US Open prospects

Tough draws

Of the seven matches Murray has played, four have been against opponents ranked in the top 25. His low ranking means the Scot will not be seeded in any tournament, opening up the possibility of very tough draws. With 128 players in the draw, a grand slam statistically should offer a better chance of a kinder opening match. Murray did beat the two lower-ranked players he faced in Washington – Mackenzie McDonald and Marius Copil – but neither was in any way straightforward. What is clear is there will be no shortcut back to the top.