Andy Murray has not ruled out playing at Wimbledon this summer but will only take to the courts at the All England Club if he feels completely ready.

The two-time Wimbledon champion was speaking at Queen’s Club five weeks after his hip resurfacing operation.

“It’s possible. In terms of time-frame, I don’t want a definitive time to try to rush back. This is a big surgery and operation that I’ve had. I need to be smart with that and see how it progresses. So far, it’s been good,” Murray said.

“The main reason for me having the operation was to not be in pain anymore, and I’m not. I’m delighted with that. What happens next, I don’t know exactly. I will do the best I can and see what is possible.

“If I could play at Wimbledon, I would love to. Of course it is my favourite tournament to play. But I would hate to go on the court at Wimbledon and for something bad to happen. Or to feel really bad and apprehensive and for it to go really badly.”

Murray laid bare his struggles at a tearful press conference ahead of the Australian Open, announcing he was planning to retire after this summer’s Wimbledon but that the Melbourne tournament might be the last of his career.

That may yet turn out to be the case but Murray, who has been battling the problem since the summer of 2017, will attempt to break new ground by returning to top-level singles action with a metal hip.

He is still limping and part of a daily five-hour rehab schedule is walking on an anti-gravity treadmill to try to erase that from his gait.

Murray is hoping to begin hitting balls on court from a stationary position in four weeks’ time and expects to know at the end of May whether his intention to return to professional tennis will be possible.