British number two, Andy Murray, has retired from the Italian Open tournament due to an hip problem after he levelled his second round match by winning the second set against Spain’s Marcel Granollers today which happens to be the player’s 26th birthday.

Murray lost the opening set 6-3, won the second 7-6, but then decided to retire due to a hip problem that had been troubling him.

The world number two had needed treatment on court after the third game of the second set with Granollers leading 2-1 and his participation at the French Open is now in doubt.

Murray said whether he will participate in the French Open or not will depend on a chat with his physio who will come up with a plan in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga got knocked out of the Italian Open today by Jerzy Janowicz, who won their second round tie 6-4 7-6(5).

The Polish player, ranked number 24 in the world, punished his French opponent with a display of power, taking the first set with an ace.

Eighth-seed Tsonga rallied in the second, but could not resist Janowicz’s fierce forehand, which helped him to win the tie-break 7-5 and set up a third round encounter with another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet.

Also, Sixteenth-seed Kei Nishikori of Japan, who eliminated world number three Roger Federer from the Madrid Open, lost his second round match to unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-1.