• French Open

Murray 'unlikely' to play in French Open due to injury

ESPN staff
May 15, 2013
Andy Murray does not believe he will play in this year's French Open © Getty Images
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Andy Murray believes it is "unlikely" he will play in this year's French Open, after injury forced him to retire from the Rome Masters on Wednesday.

Murray, the world No. 2, retired from his second round contest with Marcel Granollers moments after levelling matters at one set apiece, later revealing he was hampered by a lower back problem.

And, with the start of the action at Roland Garros barely a week away, the Scot does not expect he will be fit enough to compete in the year's second grand slam.

"I would be very surprised if I was playing in Paris," Murray, who was 'celebrating' his 26th birthday, said.

Cutting a downbeat figure, the US Open champion - who said his back hurt "all over" - subsequently added that he would give it five days before making a firm decision on his participation in Paris.

"I'll speak with the guys tonight, have a chat with the physio - and come up with a plan over the next few days," he added. "Obviously I'll make a decision on Paris after the next five days. I'll need to take some days off and see how it settles down. I'll have to see.

"I want to make sure it goes away. It's been a problem since the end of 2011 but it got bad during last year's clay season."

If Murray does pull out of the French Open, defending champion Rafael Nadal will be elevated to the top four seeds - meaning he will avoid a potential quarter-final meeting with the likes of Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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