Andy Murray admits to readjusting his aims for 2018 after recent injury struggles

After the highs of 2016, the former world No 1 endured a difficult 2017 as his form and on-court success deteriorated due to a persistent hip injury

Andy Murray is eyeing a return to action at the Brisbane International (PA)

Andy Murray has admitted he has been forced to readjust his aims for the coming season after struggling with injury across the past 12 months.

After the highs of 2016, the former world No 1 endured a difficult 2017 as his form and on-court success deteriorated due to a persistent hip injury.

His last competitive appearance came in a five-set defeat to Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July. The Scot attempted to compete at the US Open one month later but was forced to withdraw at the 11th hour due to his injury.

Since then he has been undergoing an intensive programme of rehabilitation to prepare him for the new season, and admits that a return to full fitness is now his main objective.

"When I was fit and healthy last year [2016] you think about winning all the major events, getting to No 1 and winning every competition that you are in and that is what really drives you,” he told Sky Sports.

"When you miss four or five months and there has been a bit of uncertainty about my hip or stuff (that changes). I missed the US Open and almost missed Wimbledon as well.

"The goals change and I remember now how much I just loved playing tennis - it isn't about winning every match that I play in the future or winning more slams.

"I want to get back to playing tennis, I want to be fit and healthy and that is what is driving me just now.


 Andy Murray played in an exhibition match last month against Roger Federer 
 (Getty)

"I am hoping next year I can get back to that and if I do then I have an opportunity to compete for the biggest tournaments in the world and I still believe that."

Murray is eyeing a return to action at the Brisbane International, which gets underway on New Year’s Day, but his fitness remains in doubt.

Murray and his team had originally intended to travel to Australia in good time before Christmas to acclimatise to the country’s conditions and, in doing so, bolster his chances of competing at the Australian Open.

But after an offseason in Miami that did not run as smoothly as hoped, such plans failed to materialise, with the Scot understood to still be in the UK last week after returning to London from southern Florida.

Murray’s performances at the Brisbane International will offer an insight into the player’s fitness and likely determine whether or not he competes at the Australian Open.