Less than a week after eloquently describing on social media how demoralising it is to be deprived of the sport he so loves, Andy Murray spoke confidently of being able to compete at the highest level once more.
Surgery on his troublesome right hip had taken place just 12 hours earlier: a hip which has prevented him playing a match in anger since Wimbledon, and left him in regular pain even when walking.
His surgeon has told him the remodelled hip will feel better than it did a year ago, and it has not escaped Murray's attention that a year ago he was the world number one.