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Murray Withdraws From French Open Murray Withdraws From French Open
(34 minutes later)
PARIS — The Big Four is, for now, still alive and well as a tennis concept, but bringing Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray together in the same Grand Slam tournament is proving increasingly elusive. PARIS — The Big Four is still alive and well as a tennis concept, but bringing Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray together in the same Grand Slam tournament is proving increasingly elusive.
Though Nadal has roared back from injury and a seven-month break and is again the favorite to win another French Open title, Murray announced his withdrawal from the French Open late on Tuesday night after the latest round of medical tests on his ailing lower back. Though Nadal has roared back from a left knee injury and a seven-month break and is again the favorite to win another French Open title, Murray announced his withdrawal from the tournament on Tuesday after the latest round of magnetic resonance imaging scans and other medical tests on his ailing lower back.
“It’s a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete,” Murray said in a statement released by his management team. “It’s a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete,” Murray said in a statement.
Murray, a 26-year-old Scotsman, won his first Grand Slam singles title at last year’s United States Open and reached the final of the Australian Open this year. He is ranked No. 2 in the world, but clay remains his weakest surface. He has been past the French Open quarterfinals only once, reaching the semifinals in 2011. Even healthy, he would have been among the second tier of contenders behind Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Murray, a 26-year-old Scotsman, won his first Grand Slam singles title at last year’s United States Open and reached the final of the Australian Open this year. He is  ranked No. 2 in the world, but clay remains his weakest surface. He has been past the French Open quarterfinals  only once, reaching the semifinals in 2011. Even healthy, he would have been among the second tier of contenders behind Nadal and Djokovic.
Murray has yet to precisely explain his back problem. After a series of painkilling injections last year, he played through back pain at last year’s French Open, where he eventually lost in the quarterfinals. He went on to thrive on grass and hardcourts. Murray has said his back problems began to surface late in the 2011 season and are linked to a disk problem. He has not offered more detail recently. After a series of painkilling injections last year, he played through back pain at last year’s French Open, where he eventually lost in the quarterfinals. He went on to thrive on grass and hardcourts.
But after retiring during a match last week with Marcel Granollers at the Masters 1000 event in Rome, he has decided not to take further risk in Paris and instead focus on trying to win his first Wimbledon title in July. But after retiring during a match last week with Marcel Granollers at the Masters 1000 event in Rome, he has decided not to take further risk and instead focus on trying to win his first Wimbledon title in July.
Murray’s mother, Judy Murray, who is the British Fed Cup captain, said in an interview with BBC television last week that “obviously, the goal is to be in peak condition for Wimbledon”. “He started preparing for Paris the very week after Miami, skipping Davis Cup, and had his sights set on a strong run through the clay, so this must not have been an easy decision for him,” said Darren Cahill, the coach and ESPN commentator who has sometimes advised Murray.
Judy Murray said the back problem had flared up recently. Murray’s mother, Judy, who is the British Fed Cup captain, spoke with BBC television last week. “It’s not so easy on the clay,” she said. “There is a lot more twisting and turning. He needs to be cautious, and I’m sure Wimbledon will be his priority.”
“It’s not so easy on the clay,” she said. “There is a lot more twisting and turning. He needs to be cautious, and I’m sure Wimbledon will be his priority.” Open-stance groundstrokes, a staple of the modern game, put enormous pressure on the trunk because of the rotation required. “Clay is also the one surface where Andy needs to generate more of his own power when in a defensive position, so that may play a part,” Cahill said.
Her son’s withdrawal means that for now, the top four seeded men at Roland Garros this year will be Djokovic at No. 1, Roger Federer at No. 2, Nadal at No. 3 and David Ferrer at No. 4. Murray’s withdrawal means that for now, the top four seeded men at Roland Garros will be Djokovic at No. 1, Federer at No. 2, Nadal at No. 3 and David Ferrer at No. 4.
Murray has not missed a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon in 2007, and this withdrawal underscores the phenomenal durability of the 31-year-old Federer, who also has chronic back issues but will be playing in his 54th consecutive Grand Slam tournament if he plays in Paris. Murray has not missed a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon in 2007, and this withdrawal underscores the phenomenal durability of Federer, 31, who also has chronic back issues  but will be playing in his 54th consecutive Grand Slam tournament if he plays in Paris.
With Nadal missing last year’s United States Open and this year’s Australian Open because of a left knee problem, the Big Four have not played in the same major tournament since Wimbledon last year and have yet to face off at a major tournament since Murray has joined the club of Grand Slam singles champions. With Nadal missing last year’s United States Open and this year’s Australian Open, the Big Four have not played in the same major since Wimbledon last year and have yet to face off at a major tournament since Murray has joined the club of Grand Slam singles champions.
This year’s Wimbledon will provide the next opportunity if Murray can recover in time. According to his managers, he had a series of tests on Tuesday, including a magnetic resonance imaging scan, before announcing his withdrawal.   Next chance: Wimbledon if Murray can recover in time. “History would suggest that he bounced back extremely quickly last year once on the grass,” Cahill said. “And given he’s got an extra couple of weeks now, he should be fine for Wimbledon.”