FP – Andy Murray says it’s unlikely he’ll be fit for the French Open after retiring from Wednesday’s second-round Italian Open match with Spanish opponent Marcel Granollers due to lower back pain.
Murray, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, walked off the court after winning the second set.
“I have an issue with my lower back,” Murray said.
“It’s been an issue for a while.”
Murray took a long injury break early in the second set, getting his left thigh and lower back massaged.
Granollers won the first set 6-3 and Murray won the second 7-6 (7-5).
The tournament in Rome is a key warm-up for the French Open, the year’s second grand slam, which starts on May 26.
“I would be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,” Murray said.
“I need to make a plan as to what I do. I’ll chat with the guys tonight and make a plan for the next few days then make a decision on Paris after the next five days.
“I want to make sure it goes away,” Murray added.
“It’s been a problem since the end of 2011 but it got bad during last year’s clay season.”
Murray called for the trainer while trailing 2-1 in the second set.
He then lost the next two games to trail 4-1 before battling back to force a tiebreaker.
“He is a good player and he can do well in Roland Garros and if he has a problem then I can understand he is thinking of Paris,” Granollers said.
“I think he played better at the end of the second set but he knows his problem.”
The match was played in difficult conditions, with rain drops falling at one point then wind whipping the clay up into the air and players’ eyes at other points as the sun also went in and out.
While he is ranked second this week, Murray is seeded third in Rome.
At last week’s Madrid Open, Murray was beaten by Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals.
Murray was joined on the sidelines by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was beaten 6-4 7-6 (7-5) by Polish underdog Jerzy Janowizc, and Stanislas Wawrinka (thigh).
In women’s play, Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur thumped China’s Peng Shuai 7-6 (7-5) 6-0, while former Roland Garros winner and fifth seed Li Na won a battle with Chinese countrywoman Zheng Jie 6-3 6-1.
