Andy Murray working with ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro on supplement to keep him on top of his game

Andy Murray is staying in tip-top shape at the age of 34 with help from an unlikely source – former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro. 

The former world No 1 fell to 839th in the rankings after hip surgery in 2018, and has suffered a long and difficult road back from injury, with two more operations resulting in him having a metal hip.

And according to the Telegraph, Sir Andy is collaborating with Dr Carneiro on a collagen-based health supplement, which has improved his athletic performance significantly.

Andy Murray has been working with ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro to improve performance

In 2018, Murray’s management group 77 were looking for ways to prolong his career and teamed up with Carneiro, who had been looking into the effect of collagen peptides on athletes’ performance.

Murray, Carneiro and nutritionist Glenn Kearney began collaborating to produce TRR, a supplement one can buy including marine collagen, turmeric and copper, a step in the Scot looking to bring back the strength and explosiveness of his peak.

Although its effect is not yet completely clear, Australian Open data shows Murray serving nearly 10kph quicker than when he was No 1 in early 2017.

Dr Carneiro (left) exited the Blues in 2015 after criticism from manager Jose Mourinho (right)

Moreover, his 90th percentile movement speed – a metric used to judge mobility – was up from 11.7kph in 2017 so 13.6kph in 2022, suggesting the supplement has had a significant positive effect.

Speaking about Murray, Dr Carneiro told the Telegraph on Wednesday: ‘(He is) fantastically knowledgeable – the kind of athlete who is always looking to examine the science and trying to work out how it can help him.

‘As medical professionals, we are discovering that what we thought was impossible is no longer the case. Athletes like Andy and Rafael Nadal are breaking boundaries on all fronts.

Murray, 34, will face world no 1 Novak Djokovic in a Madrid Open last 16 clash on Thursday

‘These are unique, very intelligent, educated people, who are prepared to take and examine medical evidence and advice and push through perceived challenges.’

The Gibraltar-born doctor left Chelsea in 2015 after a disagreement with then-manager Jose Mourinho, who is now at Roma. Carneiro settled a constructive dismissal claim with the Blues on confidential terms. 

Murray plays current world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the Madrid Open last 16 on Thursday after beating Dominic Thiem and Denis Shapovalov in the previous rounds.