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May 16, 2013

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Injury blow for Murray on birthday

ANDY Murray pulled out of the Italian Open on his 26th birthday yesterday as the Scot succumbed to back and hip pain during a second-round clash with Spaniard Marcel Granollers.

Having lost the first set 3-6, the third seed fought back from 1-4 down in the second set to win a tie-break 7-6 (5).

But after levelling the match on his second set point, he promptly went to the net to shake hands.

Murray, ranked world No. 2 behind Novak Djokovic, had been seen by the trainer for on-court hip and back treatment after the third game of the second set.

The defeat marked the second straight year in Rome that Murray, a 2011 semifinalist, has gone out early, following a third-round exit a year ago.

The Scot came to the court with a 2-0 margin over his opponent but never looked to be on his game.

Murray now heads to the French Open, starting a week from Sunday, with just three clay wins this season under his belt, alongside as many defeats.

Murray was joined on the sidelines on a cloudy day at the Foro Italico by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, with Polish underdog Jerzy Janowizc ripping off his shirt in celebration seconds after clinching the 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over the eighth seed.

Ukranian Alexandr Dolgopolov got a free trip into the third round as Madrid finalist Stanislas Wawrinka quit before their meeting with a thigh injury which also bothered him last week.

In women's play, former Roland Garros winner and fifth seed Li Na won a battle with Chinese countrywoman Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-1 while Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur, the 2010 beaten finalist in Paris, topped China's Peng Shuai 7-6 (5), 6-0.

Russian 12th seed Maria Kirilenko beat Varvara Lepchenko of the United States 6-3, 6-1. The 13th-seeded Roberta Vinci kept her home public happy as she eased past compatriot Natassja Burnett 6-1, 6-4.



 

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