British tennis legend Tim Henman is crossing his fingers that Andy Murray will be able to challenge for the Grand Slams again next year as he continues his comeback from hip surgery.

The two-time Wimbledon champion earned his first singles victory at tour level since January with a three-set win over Tennys Sandgren in the first round of the Zhuhai Championships in China.

It was the step on the long road of recovery for Murray, who underwent a major resurfacing operation on his hip earlier this year after the problem almost forced him to retire.

The former world No.1 began his comeback in doubles tournaments, winning Queen’s alongside Feliciano Lopez, before starting the play Challenger Tour singles events in August.