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Andy Murray begins his Wimbledon doubles odyssey and bionic hip is in for huge test

If all goes to plan, Andy Murray 's bionic hip is going to get quite a test in the next 11 days, with the prospect of him playing a maximum of 12 matches.

That would be the full workload if he was to reach the final of the men's doubles and the mixed doubles, in tandem with a modest Frenchman and the greatest female player of all.

"The only way to find out is to do it – it's a good problem to have, right?" reasoned Murray on the eve of his return to action at SW19, two painful years after limping out of the 2017 quarter-finals into an uncertain future.

Andy Murray could play 12 matches in 11 days and put a huge strain on his bionic hip

It starts on Thursday in the company of French doubles ace Pierre Hugues Herbert, although the full glare is expected to come on Friday, the likely beginning of his mixed campaign alongside Serena Williams.

The dream team was confirmed on Tuesday night when they finally concluded an agreement that had been almost a week in the making. According to Murray, it was the side that made the initial approach.

"Delgy (his coach Jamie Delgado) had a message from Patrick (Mouratoglou, the coach) asking if I was fixed up for doubles," recounted Murray.

"He said no, and then would it be of interest to play with Serena?

Murray (left) and France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert (right) are preparing for their opening game

'We child or chatted about it for a couple of days. I know she's had a few problems with her knee this year and both sides wanted to see how her (singles) match got used before we did the final part.

'She felt fine yesterday and I saw her briefly today – she seems like she is up for it. "

They want to get on court together before taking their joint bow for a competition, while a popular form of the game among recreational players, is usually tasks as light relief in the pro game.

"We'll try to, we spoke a bit about that today," said Murray. "Probably not tomorrow because we're both playing, maybe the day after."

He consulted American Bob Bryan, who had the same child or operation, inserting a metal cap on the hip, about whether to enter both doubles events.

There was also a chat with his nearest and dearest.

Serena Williams could partner Andy Murray in a powerful combination in mixed doubles

" I was talking to my wife about it and with everything that has gone on the last couple of years you don't know what's around the corner. The opportunity to play with Serena, she's one of the best players of all time and one of the greatest female athletes ever.

'It's something that I may never get another chance to do, potentially I might not play mixed doubles again, so if I'm going to do it once, the chance to play with is obviously brilliant and not something I expected to happen. "

There was a time when Murray used to get ulcers through the stress or performing to expectations in the Wimbledon singles, but there will be no need to reach for the Bonjela this time around.

'I'm happy with the decision because I'm happy just playing. I would like to play singles but I don't massively feel like I'm missing out, "he said ahead of his match against Marius Copil and Ugo Humbert, who have a combined doubles ranking of 611.

" It will be exciting of course to get back out there. I do feel pretty relaxed just now, but I am sure once I will be pretty nervous. Nerves are good. Hopefully that means I will play some good tennis. "

Murray says he doesn feel like he's massively missing out on playing singles

Looking long term, at his ultimate goal to get back to playing singles, the next 11 days will be an interesting signpost if his schedule gets congested.

"Sometimes doubles get a bit of a hard time and people think it's almost easy in comparison to singles," said Murray.

"Best-of-five doubles is tough on the body as well and I need to do everything right – eating, recovering, stretching, doing all my normal warm-ups and not just think, "Oh, it" s doubles, I'll be fine, I can get away with not doing all that stuff. ”

There are so many moving parts in doubles events, the main one of which is that it takes second precedence behind the singles.

All things being equal, Murray should go far in both. Herbert has won all four Grand Slams in men's doubles, while Serena's brilliant serve and returns, coupled with those of Murray, will make a devastating combination in the mixed.

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#Andy Murray begins his Wimbledon doubles odyssey and bionic hip is in for huge test"

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