Andy Murray withdraws from Madrid due to back injury

World no.4 Andy Murray is out of the Madrid Masters starting on Sunday because of a back injury. The timing is a bit unfortunate for the Brit, who will not only miss the big Masters Event (worth 1000 points), but it will also change his plans for the Roland Garros preparation that starts in three weeks.

Murray’s most recent match was the semifinal loss against Canadian Raonic at the Barcelona Open last week.

With the Brit’s withdrawal and the draw opening up a bit, more players will have the opportunity to get into the final rounds in Madrid. Although the draw hasn’t been released yet, it could favour del Potro, who is on the best way to defend his Estoril title this week. And we musn’t forget about the Spaniard Ferrer, who has played some great tennis at the Barcelona Open, losing only to Nadal in the final.

Nadal will be the one to look out for at this year’s Mutua Madrid Open as he will try to take the crown back from Serbian world no.1 Djokovic, who defeated him in last year’s final.

But there is one more man waiting to show what he’s got. The Swiss maestro Federer, the winner of the event in 2006 and 2009, who has allowed himself some rest in the last couple of weeks and surely managed to put a few hours of some good practice in.

Tags Andy Murray David Ferrer Juan Martin del Potro Madrid Tennis Masters Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal Roger Federer