Tennis star Andy Murray is spotted looking glum in a hospital car park – just hours before he was forced to drop out of the French Open with a back injury.
Murray, 26, was seen downbeat and surrounded by his training team after a visit to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.
The Scot was pictured at the hospital at around 5.30pm on Tuesday – and by 10pm he had announced he would not play Paris “after seeking medical advice”.
It is thought Murray was visiting a specialist at the hospital’s orthopaedic department before making his final decision to withdraw from the Grand Slam event.
On Sunday the Wimbledon winner tweeted: ”Thanks a lot for all the messages of support…seeing specialists on Monday and Tuesday… Will let you know how it goes”.
One witness said: ”Andy came out of the hospital with his team and he looked really glum. He was doing some stretching while they chatted.
”He didn’t look happy at all, it looked like he’d had some bad news. Later on I heard he’d pulled out of the French Open.”
Murray’s decision to pull out means he will miss a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2007.
Britain’s world number two retired in his first match in an Italian tournament last week and has opted against playing on the Paris clay.
Murray will hope to be fit for the start of the grass-court season at Queen’s Club on June 10.
Speaking last week he said: ”It’s been a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice I’m not fit to compete.
“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.”
It will be the first Grand Slam tournament Murray has missed since Wimbledon in 2007.
The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, starts at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Murray looked troubled throughout his match with Marcel Granollers on his 26th birthday in Rome.
He withdrew with a lower-back problem after winning a tie-break to square the match at one set all.
At the time the Scot said he would be “very surprised” if he would be fit for the French Open.
His only previous mid-match retirement coincidentally came on his 20th birthday, when he snapped a tendon in his wrist at the 2007 Hamburg Masters.
