French Open Betting: Andy Murray likely to miss the French Open but should be back in time for Wimbledon

17May 2013

ATP

Ralph Ellis thinks that, although Andy Murray is likely to miss the French Open, he's likely to to be back in time for Wimbledon...

There are few things that make you suffer more than a bad back. And we're not talking Wigan's defenders here, either. According to the NHS around 7.6 million working days a year are lost due to spinal problems.

That figure becomes 7.6 million plus 14 this morning after Andy Murray admitted he's more than likely to miss the French Open. Britain's number one tennis player, and the world's number two, was forced to quit the Italian Open yesterday half way through his second round match with Spaniard Marcel Granollers despite having just levelled it at a set all. He blamed a problem in his lower spine which has been causing him pain, and was immensely gloomy about his chances of being fit to play in Paris.

"The French is ten days away and you need to be practising and training 100 per cent before going into a Grand Slam, especially one that is incredibly physical," he admitted.

The market's immediate reaction was for his odds to rattle out from having been matched as low as 9.0 to a price of 55 to win at Roland Garros this morning. Even if he makes it to the starting line it's hard to see how he could defy a back problem through a gruelling fortnight in clay court matches that can be slugged out over four or five hours.

Murray was probably never too strong a candidate for France anyway, if the truth was told. He will be reluctant not to play. Last year he fought his way through pain in his second round match against Jarkko Nieminen on his way to the quarter-finals. But it is far from being his best surface, even he did reach the semi-final two years ago.

The biggest issue will be whether it stops him playing at Wimbledon - and that's where there's good news. The injury has made his price to win the most coveted title of them all on Centre Court slide out to 5.0 this morning, and that might present a good opportunity to back him at odds that are bound to fall before the tournament begins.

He's heading for his Surrey home now to establish a plan with his physios to work through the problem, promising a decision on Paris within five days. Then he can turn his focus totally on getting prepared for the one trophy he covets above all others. He insists that the move to the grass court season will help him, too. "The quicker courts help, and the lower bounce off the surface helps too," was his explanation.

Winning the Olympic title at Wimbledon last year, followed by his first Grand Slam at the US Open, has made a difference to Murray and his maturity. He's embraced the advice of Ivan Lendl to get out and compete more, and is a better player for it. Labelled a "Drama Queen" by Virginia Wade this time last year, he's now coming at his problems with common sense and has every chance of not only being fit for SW19 but being a genuine competitor.