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.''

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Fed, Murray back gay players

Supportive ... Federer and Murray insist a gay player would not be ostracised on tour. Source: Narendra Shrestha / AAP

Roger Federer and Andy Murray are adamant a player who came out as gay would not face discrimination on the world tennis tour.

Basketball star Jason Collins recently revealed he was gay, becoming the first active professional player in the United States to declare his homosexuality.

Federer believes any such revelation in men's tennis would not cause problems.

"I don't think it's a problem to be honest. We are relaxed and don't play team sport and mix a lot, not with the girls, but with the guys and we're very open," said the 17-time Grand Slam title winner.

"What would happen in this event? I don't know. I don't know if there is anyone."

World number three Murray said that there are probably some gay men on the professional tour.

But the Scot said that if a fellow competitor decided to go public, he would find sympathy.

"I would hope there are no issues on the tour," said the US Open and Olympic champion.

"You know, there have to be some players who are probably gay but I don't think other players have any issues with it and hope tennis deals with this well.

"I saw the Jason Collins thing in basketball and the player and the owners were respectful and happy about his decision and so I think it is a good thing."

Meanwhile, Federer, now the world number three behind Novak Djokovic and Murray, goes into the Rome Masters after an early exit from Madrid last week where he was the defending champion.

"I have a little more time here and I'm doing what you have to do to get ready for the match," said the 31-year-old Swiss, who took nearly two months off from mid-march March to heal a back niggle.

Federer will make his start in Rome in the second round against either Radek Stepanek, whom he beat in Madrid, or Italian Potito Starace.

The Swiss does not deny that this season has gotten off to a worse start than 2012, when he won titles in Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells and Madrid prior to the French Open.

Although his failure to reach the final of the first two Grand Slams that year saw him come in for criticism.

This year, he is the only member of the top 10 not to have played in any final.

But critics write him off at their peril.

"I was surprised how early it (2012 criticism) was, straight after the French Open (where he lost a semi-final to Djokovic).

"When you play well no one dares attack you.

"I have six weeks to play and I chose to take seven weeks off but people sometimes don't respect. Now, it's important to focus on Rome and get used to playing on clay."

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Murray prevails in Miami thriller

What a relief! ... Andy Murray celebrates his big win. Source: J Pat Carter / AAP

Second seed Andy Murray has won the ATP Miami Masters title, saving a match point in the penultimate game in defeating third seed David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1).

Murray captured his 26th career tour title, and second of the year having taken the Brisbane crown, after a gruelling two hours and 45 minutes.

"Both of us fought hard,'' Murray said.

"Both of us were struggling physically at the end. I was lucky to come through.''

It was the second Miami title for Murray, who won the title in 2009 but lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic.

Murray will rise to world No.2, bumping his way ahead of Roger Federer, while Ferrer will move past Rafael Nadal to become fourth in the rankings, both men matching the best position of their careers with the improvement.

Nadal and Federer skipped this year's edition of the rich hardcourt event in Miami, which also included a WTA event won by Serena Williams, while world No.1 Djokovic was ousted in the fourth round.

Murray, who owns a home 10 minutes from the stadium, beat Ferrer, who turns 31 this week, for the seventh time in 12 career meetings.

Ferrer's only win over Murray off clay was at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals.

Ferrer, who has won this year at Auckland and Buenos Aires, failed in his bid to win his first US title and become the first Spaniard to win the Miami title.

He is 0-12 in finals against players ranked in the world's top four.

"I am tired. It was a very long match,'' Ferrer said.

"Andy had more at the end. Congratulations to him.''

Ferrer and Murray exchanged breaks over the first six games of the third set, then each held serve once before Murray broke Ferrer for a 5-4 edge when the Spaniard netted a forehand.

Murray served for the match but surrendered a break instead, Ferrer pulling level and then holding serve for a 6-5 advantage.

Ferrer reached match point in the 12th game on Murray's serve but stopped play on the key point to challenge on a Murray forehand that was ruled on the baseline, setting the stage for Murray to hold and force the tie-breaker.

"That's the beauty of the challenge system,'' Murray said.

"Some matches that would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in.''

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Murray prevails in Miami thriller

What a relief! ... Andy Murray celebrates his big win. Source: J Pat Carter / AAP

Second seed Andy Murray has won the ATP Miami Masters title, saving a match point in the penultimate game in defeating third seed David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1).

Murray captured his 26th career tour title, and second of the year having taken the Brisbane crown, after a gruelling two hours and 45 minutes.

"Both of us fought hard,'' Murray said.

"Both of us were struggling physically at the end. I was lucky to come through.''

It was the second Miami title for Murray, who won the title in 2009 but lost last year's final to Novak Djokovic.

Murray will rise to world No.2, bumping his way ahead of Roger Federer, while Ferrer will move past Rafael Nadal to become fourth in the rankings, both men matching the best position of their careers with the improvement.

Nadal and Federer skipped this year's edition of the rich hardcourt event in Miami, which also included a WTA event won by Serena Williams, while world No.1 Djokovic was ousted in the fourth round.

Murray, who owns a home 10 minutes from the stadium, beat Ferrer, who turns 31 this week, for the seventh time in 12 career meetings.

Ferrer's only win over Murray off clay was at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals.

Ferrer, who has won this year at Auckland and Buenos Aires, failed in his bid to win his first US title and become the first Spaniard to win the Miami title.

He is 0-12 in finals against players ranked in the world's top four.

"I am tired. It was a very long match,'' Ferrer said.

"Andy had more at the end. Congratulations to him.''

Ferrer and Murray exchanged breaks over the first six games of the third set, then each held serve once before Murray broke Ferrer for a 5-4 edge when the Spaniard netted a forehand.

Murray served for the match but surrendered a break instead, Ferrer pulling level and then holding serve for a 6-5 advantage.

Ferrer reached match point in the 12th game on Murray's serve but stopped play on the key point to challenge on a Murray forehand that was ruled on the baseline, setting the stage for Murray to hold and force the tie-breaker.

"That's the beauty of the challenge system,'' Murray said.

"Some matches that would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in.''

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