Andy Murray says he was encouraged by his performance in Acapulco last week, despite losing in the semifinals to Grigor Dimitrov. It was Murray's fifth event (including Davis Cup) since returned from back surgery at the beginning of the season.
"The first few tournaments back were hard but my body feels good now,” said Murray. “Last week in Acapulco I played four matches in four days, three three-set matches which didn’t start until late, woke up the next day and felt fine for the first time since the surgery. That shows I am starting to recover properly which is great."
That has also left coach Ivan Lendl encouraged that Murray is getting back to his previous level.
"I understand from Andy that he played his best match in a while against Dimitrov," Lendl told Eurosport ahead of a World Tennis Day exhibition.
Though unable to see last week's matches, Lendl suggested the improvement could give Murray "more confidence, because you always question yourself after you come back from injury."
The Czech legend even played up Murray's prospects for the clay season, where he has traditionally struggled.
"I've always felt that clay courts are easier on the back even though the points are longer," said Lendl, who retired with back problems.
"Murray] was always complaining that the back was an issue on clay," Lendl [added later. "And once you’re not afraid or fearful of the pain then you enjoy it more and you get more confidence.
"A lot of clay-court matches come down to conditioning, which is his strength, and patience, which is his strength. I see absolutely no reason why he can’t be very successful."