ROME: Andy Murray pulled out of the Rome Masters on his 26th birthday yesterday as the Scot succumbed to back and hip pain during a second-round clash with Marcel Granollers.

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

But after leveling 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.

“I pulled out because there is a good chance I wouldn’t be playing tomorrow. We’ll have to wait for Paris. I’d be very surprised if I were playing in Paris,” he said.

“I need to make plans and see what to do. Tonight I’ll speak with the physio and come up with a plan for the next few days and then make a decision on Paris after the next five days.” The French Open starts on May 26.

“I’ll need to take some days off and see how it settles down, but a few days can make a difference,” Murray was quoted as saying on the official ATP website (www.atpworldtour.com).

“I’ll try and get it sorted but it has been an issue for some while,” said Murray. “So I want to make sure that it’s something that I can sort out. It’s not enjoyable to play now.” Murray, who lost the opening set 6-3 to Granollers, won the second 7-6 but retired having needed treatment on court after the third game of the second set with the Spaniard leading 2-1.

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 (7/5) 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, beat China’s Peng Shuai 7-6 (7/5), 6-0.