Murray reveals long term back problem

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Andy Murray has revealed he has been carrying a back injury since last December and it threatens to put his season in turmoil. The world No.4 was knocked out of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia after a three hour long 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Richard Gasquet, and with the French Open in little over a week followed by a lengthy grass court season there are real concerns over the 25-year-old’s fitness, especially in marathon matches like this one.

“It was long match and I had a sore back towards the end but I was expecting that coming to the tournament,” he said. “I didn’t take a break because I’ve been training and playing a lot but the muscles are more tired and fatigued.

“I don't want to go into detail here about it and the treatment but it’s been there for a while – since December. You wait for the right moment and then there is the French Open and then Wimbledon and then the US Open coming up and there is not much time for rest – anything goes. The best time to do it is now so when the French Open comes up I will be in peak condition.”

Murray will now have over a week in Paris ahead of a gruelling Grand Slam competition, and has even missed out on the chance to see his beloved football team Hibernian play on the Scottish Cup on Saturday in order not to disrupt his plans.

“It is good to get some extra days break and I was planning on going to Paris straight away and start to practice as the Grand Slam start in nine days,” he said. “I want to make sure I get practicing and getting into the gym and the first days there you are not doing too much, just getting into shape and understanding the conditions.

“Sometimes things get better when you play on them or you have an extended break but when you identify the problem then experience helps you. I have had three long matches and one was 2 hours 40 and today's was a good test and I did relatively well.”