Football ban for Murray as he rests his ankle

The British No 1, who turned down the chance to train with Rangers when he was 15, reached the quarter-finals of the AEGON Championships yesterday with a straight-sets victory over Janko Tipsarevic.

Murray still loves a kick-about to bring some variety to his training programme and he played before both the Australian and the French Open tournaments.

The 24-year-old Hibernian fan fancies himself as a striker and he was on the score-sheet in March when he teamed up with Novak Djokovic for a Japan earthquake charity match in Miami.

But the ankle damage Murray suffered en route to the French Open semi-finals last week means the boots will have to remain in the suitcase.

Murray cannot afford to take any risks in the build-up to Wimbledon.

“I like to play quite a bit of football because it’s something different,” Murray said after his 6-4 7-6 (7/3) victory.

“I played 11-a-side on the Monday before the French Open and I played five-a-side with Djokovic a couple of times before the Australian.

“It isn’t any more dangerous than playing tennis providing you’re playing with people who understand. Slide tackling is a no-no. We were going to play a game next Monday but I think that’s out because of the ankle.”

Murray had questioned whether he should even be playing at Queen’s this week after damaging the tendon in his right ankle en route to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

But the recuperation is progressing well and Murray reported no issues after his victory over Tipsarevic.

“I didn’t feel it at all, which is good news,” Murray said.

“I started doing some strengthening exercises last night. I am going to do them after every match and make sure I do them every day between now and Wimbledon.

“It will definitely make a difference and make me feel more comfortable on court.”

Murray made life difficult for himself against Tipsarevic by having his serve broken in the first game of each set but he responded aggressively.

The world No 4 broke Tipsarevic either side of a rain interval to claim the first set and came from behind to force the second into a tie-break with a strong serving performance.

“I didn’t help myself by going behind at the beginning of both sets,” said Murray.

“I could have possibly won more comfortably if I had made a better start but because I went behind early in the sets I was just trying to get my way back into it.

“I did a good job of that, especially in the second set I played much better.”

Murray will face Croatian Marin Cilic after the eighth seed overcame Thomasz Bellucci 7-6 (7/3) 0-6 6-3.

“I played him once on grass in the Davis Cup (in 2007) and that match went five sets. He serves big, he’s a big guy who hits a big ball,” said Murray.

“It will be tricky because of that. I will have to return well against him.”

British No 2 James Ward was locked at one set all with defending champion Sam Querrey when bad light stopped play.

Ward, ranked 216, produced the biggest victory of his career to beat world No 14 Stanislas Warwinka in the last round.

The 24-year-old, who has hired a former cage fighter as his new fitness trainer, lost the first set last night 6-3 but he hit back to take the second.

The winner will face Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who had earlier upset former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets.

Andy Roddick may not understand cricket or the English phrase “chalk and cheese” but he is otherwise right at home on grass.

Roddick is chasing his fifth title at Queen’s and he moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over 6ft 8in South African Kevin Andersson.

“I love being here, I love this tournament, I love this whole month over here,” said Roddick.

“I think I understand most of the British culture. I am still trying to get the rules of cricket.

“I’ve never understood ‘chalk and cheese’ – I know they’re supposed to be different but it just sounds disgusting. “