Andy Murray should consider pulling out of the French Open, according to Boris Becker.
The German tennis legend believes Murray may be better off withdrawing from the French Open to let his back problem recover in time for Wimbledon and the Olympic Games.
The world No 4 was clearly troubled by the injury when he lost to Richard Gasquet in Rome last week, revealing afterwards he had been carrying the complaint since December.
With the French Open set to begin on Sunday, the Scot is a fitness doubt and can be backed at 40/1 with
Stan James to claim his first Grand Slam title in Paris this year.
And with a busy summer schedule ahead, six-time Grand Slam champion Becker has told him to consider skipping Roland Garros.
“I worry where Andy is physically,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “Back pain is a disaster on clay.
“On any other surface you can handle it because you can finish matches quickly, but on clay you have to be ready to play for two or three hours every day.
“We saw Andy couldn't handle that in Rome. I'm not a doctor but if he's not fit, the question must be ‘why play at all?'
“Nobody can win seven matches over the next fortnight without being in decent physical condition, not even Rafael Nadal.
“So if he has no realistic chance of winning a Grand Slam title, why not get some rest?
“With Wimbledon and the Olympics coming up, that is two big reasons for Andy to think about his long-term health.”
