Djokovic offers some advice for a returning Murray at Queen's Club

Novak Djokovic is offering a few comeback tips to Andy Murray, saying the mental effects of an injury can linger longer than the physical.

Murray returns to tour from a long layoff with a hip injury this week at Queen's, while Djokovic has been on the comeback trail from elbow problems. The Serb told local press at Queen's that it took him a while to stop being distracted by his elbow, even when the injury was recovered, and initial subpar performances affected his confidence.

"You’re thinking, ‘Does it hurt me, does it not hurt me, am I imagining things, is it real, is it not real.' Then 50 percent of the time you are thinking about your tactics and what you have to execute. If you don’t have mental clarity on the court, especially on grass, it's very difficult to play," said Djokovic. "I never knew that it was going to take so much time.

"It's frustrating at times."

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The 12-time Grand Slam champion added that Murray should also be wary of his movement as he returns on grass, saying, "The one thing—again, I don’t know the state of his hips—that could be a bit dangerous is slipping on the grass. That’s something that is very unpredictable and grass is always this kind of surface where one wrong footing can make something go wrong, especially in the hips. I just hope for his sake that that doesn’t happen."

But he also noted that it should help Murray to begin his comeback in a familiar setting in front of British crowds, adding that crowd backing had helped him in his own comeback.

"First of all, he's very comfortable on grass," said Djokovic. "It’s also at home. He needs that support."

And despite the difficulties involved in a comeback, he also sees it as a form of making a fresh start.

"Coming back after a major injury is something that inspires you in a way, brings you that motivation," said Djokovic, adding of his former fellow No. 1, "He’s a great champion, a great guy, really dedicated, hard-working, great ethics and has a great team around him. I really hope to see him back playing at that level."

The two players, who have known each other since the juniors, also spoke with each other on the grounds at Queen's.

Both Murray and Djokovic are unseeded, with Murray playing Nick Kyrgios in the first round.

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