I may miss French Open: Murray

Andy Murray ... 'Some shots hurt more on clay because the movement is so exaggerated.' Source: TIZIANA FABI / AAP

World No.2 Andy Murray admits that he could miss the French Open after a long-term back injury forced him to quit the Rome Masters.

"I'd be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,'' Murray said after retiring from a second-round start at the Foro Italico, handing a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) win to Spain's Marcel Gronollers.

Murray said that pain in his lower left back, which has bothered him since late 2011, has been flaring recently, bringing on the Rome pullout.

"I felt pain today, the same as in Madrid. I took a few days off after Madrid. I hit yesterday and played some points. But I was still sore today,'' sad Murray, with the French Open due to start on May 26.

Murray said the back problem is the same one which required him to take a pain-killing injection last spring in order to play Roland Garros in 2012 where he reached the quarter-finals.

"We will have to wait and see on Paris. I'll try to make a decision after the next five days or so. I need some days off for it to hopefully settle down,'' said Murray.

Murray, the US Open and Olympic champion, said he was loathe to take another injection since the one in 2012 still did not leave him feeling 100 per cent.

The Scot has not quit a match since May, 2007, in Hamburg when he suffered a wrist injury which took three months to heal.

Murray, who has never clinched a claycourt title, has won just three matches on the surface this season, alongside as many defeats.

''(The back) has not been perfect for a long period, I want it to start feeling good again. Everyone goes into matches with niggles, but this is very frustrating,'' he said.

"Some shots hurt more on clay because the movement is so exaggerated.

"I don't want to go into details, but I've got a disc problem, it changes week to week. It's been an issue for a while, but I want to make sure it goes away.

"I don't want to be playing with it long term, it's not enjoyable at all.''

View the original article here