London: Britain's world number two Andy Murray has pulled out of the French Open after failing to recover from a lower back injury which he aggravated at the Italian Open last week. "It's a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete," Murray said in a statement released by his management company.
"Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible." Murray retired injured in the Italian Open second round in Rome on his 26th birthday last Wednesday after levelling his match with Spaniard Marcel Granollers by winning the second set.
"I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris," he said after having treatment on court. "I want to make sure that it's something that I can sort out. It's not enjoyable to play now." The French Open, which starts on May 26 at Roland Garros, will be the first grand slam Murray has missed since Wimbledon in 2007 when he had a wrist injury.
He will now focus on preparing for the grass court season and set his sights on being ready to play at Queen's Club, the warmup event for Wimbledon starting on June 10....
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08:40 AM, May 22, 2013
Cannes: Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will walk the red carpet for AMFAR-The Ultimate Gold Collection here, wearing an exquisite gold themed outfit designed by Tarun Tahiliani. The 39-year-old extended her stay at the Cannes Film Festival to attend the AMFAR event for AIDS research. Aishwarya will also participate in an auction that is a part of the event, proceeds of which will go towards AIDS research. Tahiliani is the only...
06:15 PM, May 21, 2013
London: England named an unchanged squad for the second Test against New Zealand starting on Friday after batsman Ian Bell was declared fit following a bout of tonsillitis. Bell climbed out of his sick bed to take his place at the crease in the first Test won in stunning fashion by England on Sunday but had been a doubt for Headingley. Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root will get...
03:06 PM, May 21, 2013
Brushing aside divorce rumours, celebrity couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban stepped out on the fifth day of Cannes Film Festival together and even indulged in some good old fashioned PDA. Keith kissed wife Nicole and looked absolutely smitten by his actress wife. The couple attended the premiere of 'Inside Llewyn Davis' at the festival.(Pictures by Getty Images) ...
12:05 PM, May 21, 2013
New Delhi: Actress Sherlyn Chopra, who posed for adult magazine Playboy last year, wore a transparent ensemble for a red carpet event at the 66th Cannes International Film Festival. She is there to promote her debut film 'Kamasutra 3D' with the team. Sherlyn took to the red carpet in what looks like a transparent black dress with a solid black brassiere to hide her modesty. A heavy Rajasthan-inspired neckpiece takes...
11:21 AM, May 21, 2013
Karachi: Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez is all geared up for the upcoming Champions Trophy clash against India, and said any encounter between the traditional rivals on the cricketing field is "always very special". Hafeez told Pakistani reporters in Ireland, where the team is preparing for a One-Day series against the hosts, that the players were eagerly awaiting the match against India as it would also determine their chances of qualifying...
10:58 AM, May 21, 2013
She is always been a hands on mother. And on Sunday one got to see Aishwarya Rai Bachchan juggling press and a baby with equal elan. The actress was busy giving interviews when her little daughter Aaradhya woke up and Aishwarya immediately rushed to her room to attend the little one. The actress was later clicked at her hotel balcony cuddling a sleepy Aaradhya. (Picture courtesy: Facebook) ...
10:26 AM, May 21, 2013
London: New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori could return to action in the second Test against England this week after Bruce Martin was ruled out of the rest of the tour with a calf injury. Vettori has not played for the Black Caps for almost a year because of a hamstring injury and was left out of the squad for the two-Test series in England. But with Martin sidelined by the...
07:15 PM, May 20, 2013
Monte Carlo: Adrian Sutil says the VJM06, launched for the 2013 season, is the best car he has driven for Sahara Force India and it would suit the street circuit for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, here. Asked if the current car is the best Force India has come up so far, he replied, "I think so, yes. Wherever we have gone so far the car has looked competitive and that...
07:01 PM, May 20, 2013
Limassol: Indian boxers scaled new frontiers as they powered through to claim the top rank and bag the 2013 Invitational FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup. The Indian pugilists displayed grit and talent throughout the tournament and a stunning performance particularity in the finals Sunday with a total tally of 10 medals - four gold, three silver and three bronze - ensured a first place in the overall standings for the...
06:56 PM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: 'Jal', a film on water scarcity in the Rann of Kutch, will have a special screening at the ongoing 66th Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Girish Mallik, the film stars Purab Kohli and Tannishtha Chatterjee in the lead and will be screened at Palais Cannes on May 22. "We at One World Films and our International sales partner- Insomnia World Sales/ NFDC are privileged to get an opportunity...
06:01 PM, May 20, 2013
Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund's central defender Mats Hummels is expected to recover from an ankle injury in time to play in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Hummels twisted his right ankle in the 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim in the final round of the Bundesliga on Saturday. Team doctor Markus Braun says Hummels being on the field Saturday at Wembley is "absolutely realistic." Hummels told Sport Bild magazine the...
04:11 PM, May 20, 2013
New Delhi: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looked slim and elegant as she made her much awaited entry to the Cannes Film Festival's red carpet in a black sequined Elie Saab gown. The 39-year-old Bollywood diva, who is on her eleventh visit to the festival, completed her look with open hair and minimal jewellery. Aishwarya, who has travelled with her 18-month-old daughter Aardhya at the festival, kept the tot away from the...
03:14 PM, May 20, 2013
Bridgetown: The West Indies will kick off preparations for next month's Champions Trophy in England when they embark on a five-day camp at the High Performance Centre (HPC) at the 3Ws Oval starting here on Monday. The sessions will be overseen by West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson with assistant coach Tony Radford and the HPC's Andre Coley, also involved in the squad's preparation. The players are expected to begin...
01:15 PM, May 20, 2013
Wellington: New Zealand's media were muted in their reaction to their side being bundled out for just 68 runs to give England a 170-run victory in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday, instead turning their focus towards the second match in Leeds. Their second innings score, sparked by Stuart Broad's career-best figures of seven for 44, was New Zealand's ninth-lowest in their 83-year Test history. Unlike the furore that...
11:25 AM, May 20, 2013
London: England captain Alastair Cook was satisfied with his team's performance after they beat New Zealand by 170 runs in a fluctuating first Test at Lord's on Sunday. Widely criticised following the recent 0-0 series draw in New Zealand against a side ranked six places below them, England produced a disciplined bowling display to skittle the touring side for 68 in their second innings. "It was a good Test win...
09:45 PM, May 19, 2013
Rome: After all these years, Rafael Nadal still knows how to dominate Roger Federer. In the 30th meeting between the two tennis greats, Nadal controlled the final from start to finish to win 6-1, 6-3 on Sunday for his seventh Italian Open title. It was the most lop-sided win in the series since Nadal also lost just four games, but over three sets, in the 2008 French Open final against...
09:34 PM, May 19, 2013
Rome: Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna ended runners-up at the Rome Masters after a tame straight sets defeat at the hands of top seeded American team of Mike and Bob Bryan here on Sunday. The sixth seeded Indian combination lost 2-6 3-6 in the summit clash of the euro 3,204,745 clay court event. Such was the domination of the veteran American pair that Indians could not earn even a single...
08:11 PM, May 19, 2013
Rome: Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion Sunday, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open final. The top-ranked American will enter the French Open, which starts next Sunday, on a career-best 24-match winning streak. Williams was coming off consecutive titles in Miami; Charleston, South Carolina; and Madrid last week. Williams' only previous title at this clay-court event came in 2002,...
06:58 PM, May 19, 2013
Kolkata: Promising Deepika Kumari was done in by some sheer class of more experienced opponents as she settled for two silver medals, including one with Jayanta Talukdar, to help India finish fourth in the Archery World Cup Stage 1 that concluded in Shanghai Sunday. Pitted against Ok-Hee Yun, a team Olympic champion and individual bronze medallist in Beijing 2008, Deepika took a 4-2 lead but the Korean showed amazing resilience...
05:55 PM, May 19, 2013
