Andy Murray a doubt for the French Open after being forced to retire in Rome Andy Murray's preparations for the French Open were thrown into doubt here today when he retired with what appeared to be a hip or lower back injury midway through his second-round match against Marcel Granollers at the Rome Masters. The Scot, who is celebrating his 26th birthday today, had just levelled the match by winning a second set tie-break when he retired. Murray had looked uneasy with his movement for much of the first set, which Granollers won 6-3, and occasionally clutched his left hip. The world No 2 took a medical time-out for treatment after the third game of the second set and appeared to be heading for a heavy defeat when he lost 10 points in succession. He fought back, however, and retired only after winning the second set tie-break. It was only the second time in his career on the main tour that Murray has retired from a match. Oddly enough the only previous occasion, when he suffered a serious wrist injury playing in Hamburg, was also on his birthday. With the French Open starting in just 11 days" time Murray could face a race to be fit in time for the year's opening Grand Slam tournament, where he has been at the centre of injury dramas in the last two years. In 2011 he injured his ankle against Michael Berrer in the third round but still went on to reach the semi-finals. Last year he suffered a back problem against Jarkko Nieminen in the second round but still managed to win the match.