Gilbert: Murray will be back stronger

Andy Murray will come back stronger after the wrist injury which forced him to miss Wimbledon, according to his coach Brad Gilbert.

Murray injured tendons in his right wrist in the first round of the Hamburg

Masters on May 15, his 20th birthday.

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The British number one has not played competitively since but had hoped

intensive treatment would allow him to compete at the All England Club, where he

reached the fourth round last year with a brilliant victory over two-time

finalist Andy Roddick.

He eventually admitted defeated in his battle to be fit yesterday, but is

aiming to return in the ATP Tour event in Los Angeles which starts on July 16.

Gilbert told the BBC: "With something like this you have to follow medical

advice. (Nicolas) Kiefer is just coming back after missing a year, (Paradorn)

Srichaphan has been out half a year.

"With the wrist, you're either fit or you're not, there is no way round the

situation.

"As a coach you have to be an optimist and he's doing everything he can to be

fit, that's why he left it a week. A little adversity will make him stronger.

"I feel he can be an unbelievable player. For a young player, he is very

focused, very determined. He's much more fiery on the court. Off the court he's

like a normal kid, not materialistic, he doesn't even have a driving licence

yet.

"Hopefully within a week and a half we'll go to America and do some

warm-weather training."

Earlier in the day, Murray's decision had also been supported by John McEnroe,

Greg Rusedski and Paul Annacone.

Three-time Wimbledon champion McEnroe believes the Scot made the right choice,

especially as a certain Roger Federer stands in the way of anyone hoping to lift

the title.

"Let's look at it this way, he is only 20 years of age. When you have got a

wrist injury it usually takes two or three months. He must have done more damage

than we thought at the time," McEnroe said.

"You have also got to think he's not ready to win the Championships yet. He

has got to beat Roger Federer, who is basically unstoppable on grass.

"I think in three years time he (Murray) will be ready for the Championships.

He will be physically stronger and be a better player."

Rusedski, who suffered numerous injury problems in his career before retiring

earlier this year, added: "You don't want to risk it with your wrist so there

is no question that he has made the right decision.

"He wasn't 100% so he made a good call and I am glad to see that happen."

Murray's withdrawal leaves Tim Henman shouldering British hopes once more, and

his coach Paul Annacone also backed Murray's decision.

"It's very disappointing for him but these injuries are very tricky and he is

a young gentleman who has plenty of Wimbledons left in him," Annacone said.

"I feel bad for him but the key for him is to keep healthy and get ready for

the summer in the States.

"There is always a risk of worsening it. Andy is a smart kid and he's got good

people around him. I know Brad (Gilbert) and the physios have been working very

hard to try and get him healthy.

"I don't think there's any point him playing if he doesn't think he'll be able

to give himself a decent chance of being able to play for the two weeks."

Murray's mother Judy revealed the 20-year-old will now concentrate on getting

fully fit before returning to action in America in the build-up to the US Open.

"It's coming up to a very important time of the year for him, the American

hard-court season, it's his best surface and he has a lot of points to defend

because he did very well there last year," she said.

"This coming week he will be in the gym and the swimming pool to work his

physical programme and strengthen his wrist, but he will be hitting very few

balls this week.

"He could not hit through or over his forehand and was still feeling pain in

his wrist. There was no point going out there if he was not 100% and risk

further damage.

"The tennis circuit is 11 months, it's not just the Wimbledon fortnight and

it's important for him to be fit for the long term. Much as he was desperate to

play it was not worth the long-term risk."