Jamie Murray would love to see his brother Andy back on a tennis court but his main hope is for the 31-year-old to be able to live without pain.
Andy was due to fly home on Wednesday as he considers whether to struggle on ahead of a farewell appearance at Wimbledon this summer or undergo a second, more serious, hip operation that could either salvage his career or end it.
Andy hinted after his emotional five-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday that surgery was the more likely option, and Jamie appeared to confirm that.
Jamie Murray wants his brother Andy to be able to enjoy a 'pain-free' life after tennis
The 32-year-old, who is due to begin his doubles campaign on Thursday, said: 'He's obviously got to go and do his surgery, which is a pretty big surgery to get.
'I just hope that, whatever happens, he can get back to just regular life, pain-free, and be able to enjoy himself and not be in constant pain. If he's able to come back and play tennis, if that's what he wants to do, then I'm sure he'll give it everything he can.
'I obviously haven't been there day by day watching him go through what he has gone through because I have been continuing playing on the tour.
Andy has hinted at needing more surgery to help ease the pain he currently finds himself in
'But I know obviously, surgeries, so many other things he has tried to do in order to get back and get feeling good. I can't imagine how much of a toll that would take on you mentally probably more than anything. So it has been a long road for him and I think he just needed an end result one way or another.'
One of the signs that Monday was a special occasion was the presence in his player box of Jamie. The brothers rarely watch each other live because they find it too stressful, and Jamie did not appear to enjoy the experience.
'I was OK actually,' he said. 'He got a great reception coming on court, great atmosphere, especially once he broke back in the third set. He was obviously fighting really hard.
'I knew how difficult it was for him because of the pain he's in and also the frustration of not being able to play to the level that he's used to or expects of himself.
