Andy Murray has been photographed in public for the first time since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in January.

The former world No 1 was pictured at a Thai restaurant in Wimbledon last month on crutches.

Murray underwent hip surgery on January 28 after exiting the Australian Open, where he announced his intention to retire from tennis this year after struggling with a devastating hip problem.

Andy Murray has been pictured in public for the first time since undergoing hip surgery

Murray was photographed at a Thai restaurant in Wimbledon on crutches last month

HIP RESURFACING SURGERY - WHAT IS IT? An alternative to a hip replacement, it involves removing the damaged surfaces of the bones inside the hip joint and replacing them with a metal surface. An advantage to this approach is that it removes less bone. However, resurfacing is much less popular now due to concerns about the metal surface causing damage to soft tissues around the hip. Advertisement

According to SWLondoner, Murray was enjoying a meal with friends at Patara restaurant, roughly a mile from Centre Court.

Restaurant manager Sutin Sriyod, 50, said: 'He could not walk properly still. He used his stick and moved quite slowly.'

Murray tearfully revealed in Melbourne that he had intended to retire after Wimbledon this year but the pain in his hip meant that he may have to stop sooner.

He looked to be struggling ahead of a long-awaited return to Grand Slam tennis in January and was subsequently beaten in five sets by Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open.

The Scot said his ongoing problems had reached a point where he was unable to put on socks or shoes without experiencing serious discomfort.

The 31-year-old resorted to hip resurfacing surgery - an alternative to a full hip replacement - in order to relieve the chronic pain.

Murray revealed at the Australian Open that he was planning to retire after Wimbledon 2019

The former world No 1 chose to have further surgery after losing in the first round in Melbourne

The surgery was aimed at having a better quality of life rather than facilitating a return to the top table of world tennis.

The former Wimbledon champion's mother, Judy Murray, said recently that her son could return to tennis, although that is not his priority.

'I think he will (return),' Judy was quoted as telling Sky Sports last month. 'But I think he's aware that it might not be possible.

'He's a smart guy, he has a lot of interest in different things, he has a lot of options in life after tennis, but the most important thing is that he's free from the pain he's had for 20 months.'