Murray pulls out of French Open

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the French Open after seeking specialist advice on the back injury picked up in Rome. It is believed that this is a recurrence of the same injury that hindered his 2012 clay court season.

The Brit admitted it was a 'really tough decision' and has expressed his disappointment, but says he is not fit to compete in the French capital. He is now looking ahead to the grass court season in three weeks time.

It's a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete. Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible.

This will be the first grand slam Murray has missed since Wimbledon 2007.

Injured Murray retires in Rome

There were no happy birthdays for an injured Andy Murray at the Foro Italico today, as he retired from his second round Rome Masters match against Spaniard Marcel Granollers, with the score tied at 3-6 7-6.

On this form, it looked like Murray would lose to Marcel Proust. However, within a few games, it was obvious that the Scot was struggling with an injury.

The new world number two looked miserable, out of sorts and in pain throughout the match and finally succumbed to on-court treatment to his hip after the third game of the second set.

By that time, Granollers had sauntered to the first set and led 2-1 in the second. Although Murray winced his way to a successful second-set tiebreak, he decided not to risk aggravating the injury ahead of next week’s French Open, shook hands and traipsed off court.

Clay is proving to be an alien and discomfiting surface for the Brit and this is the third consecutive year he’s endured problems immediately before or during Roland Garros.

The retirement was only Murray’s second in his entire professional career. The other was also on clay – in Hamburg in 2007 – and also on his birthday.

Murray ousted by Berdych

Andy Murray was knocked out of the Madrid Masters after being defeated 7-6(3), 6-4 by world number six Tomas Berdych in the quarter-final stage.

The British number one had his opportunities in the first set, but was unable to take advantage and paid the price, wilting under the pressure of the world number six. However, despite the defeat, Murray will still return to world number two on Monday.

The Scot created a break point opportunity in the very first game, but as in his previous matches he struggled to take advantage, and the Czech was able to hold. Both players were finding much success behind their serve, and the opening six games went routinely.

But in the seventh game, Murray found a way through. A few loose errors from Berdych aided the Brit to a second break point, but the Czech man refused to bow down easily and threw everything at Murray to try and save it. Scampering along the baseline the Brit got everything back, including with a high defensive lob, before finding a stunning forehand pass to seal the break and open up a 4-3 lead.

Berdych’s response was instant. With the aid of a double fault, the world number six opened up a break back point with a couple of sizzling winners. Murray fended it off with an ace, and both players traded blows before Berdych opened a second break point with a stunning lob. And this time the Czech player took full advantage; getting himself on top of the point before hitting a cute drop volley to level the affair.

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Murray struggles past Simon

Andy Murray overcame a spirited opponent and his own profligacy to advance into the quarter finals of the Madrid Open, eventually beating Gilles Simon 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).

Simon has only beaten the Scot once in 11 attempts but for the first hour looked the more likely winner. The Frenchman won eight of the first ten games and barely had to exert himself as a subdued Murray struggled to find rhythm and consistency. When the Scot found himself 2-6, 0-2, 0-30 down, a disappointing clay court season looked set to continue with yet another early exit.

Murray is nothing if not tenacious and the fourth game of the second set proved pivotal. The pair exchanged game points for 14 minutes before the Scot finally converted his seventh breakpoint of the game with a crushing backhand return. Murray on to dictate the rest of the set, converting his fifth set point as Simon once again struggled to hold serve at 4-5.

The third set looked in danger of being almost routine when the US Open champion broke for a 3-0 lead. Simon fought back, breaking to level the score at 3-3 and saving match points at 5-6. Murray squandered more match points in the tie-break before finally converting at the sixth time of asking.

Murray will meet Tomas Berdych in the quarter finals. The pair have met on clay twice, with the Czech prevailing on both occasions.

Murray through opener at Madrid

Andy Murray won his first match at the Madrid Open beating Germany's Florian Mayer, 7-6 (13-11) 7-6 (7-3).

The Scot struggled to claim his 400th career win, particularly in the first tie-break where he was required to save five set points.

Murray said:

I thought it was good, I just didn't read his serve well. He aced me a lot in the first set. I had chances in almost every service game and he aced me or I didn't read the serve or missed the return.

I moved way, way better than in Monte Carlo and felt I was able to dictate with my forehand, but he's a very difficult player to play; he's so unorthodox and can play almost every shot, can volley well and has such long reach he doesn't play with much topspin and it's tough to hit through him.

Murray will play 16th seed Gilles Simon in his next match.

Stan dismantles Murray

Andy Murray crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters after being thrashed 6-1, 6-2 by Stanislas Wawrinka. The Scot surrendered the match, and his world number 2 ranking, in just under an hour.

Wawrinka played an excellent match, but his opponent barely put up a fight. From 1-0, 40-30 up Murray's game imploded. The Scot hit an astonishing 14 unforced errors to 2 winners in the first set alone.

Murray will return in Madrid.

Murray makes short work of Frenchman

Andy Murray kicked off his clay season on the right foot with an efficient 6-1 6-4 victory over 81st-ranked Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the Monte Carlo Masters this afternoon.

The world number two took just 73 minutes to breeze past the 29-year-old, who had benefited from playing three matches in the qualifying tournament. The Frenchman had also beaten Robin Haase in round one, while the Scot was granted a bye as one of the top seeds.

Murray raced into a 4-0 lead in his first clay match since last year’s French Open and looked at home on the crushed dirt. There was a minor lapse as the Scot then dropped serve, but he recovered to seal a third break and serve out the set.

After breaking early in the second set, Murray survived a single break-back point and a time violation to establish a 4-2 lead. When he was warned again for abusing the clock, the British number one directed some choice Anglo Saxon at the umpire. The number two seed quickly regained composure, however, and served out for a routine victory.

Murray, who plays Stanislas Wawrinka in the next round, has had his clay credentials endorsed by former world number one Boris Becker.

The German said: “Andy is still improving with the help of Ivan Lendl, and this [clay] is where we might see it the most. His forehand is definitely better and so is his position on the court. For me, the key is that he keeps playing aggressively so that he doesn’t have to do so much running.”