Andy Murray backed by Roger Federer after pulling out of Italian Open

Andy Murray's withdrawal was deemed ‘one of the better pull-outs you can make’ by Roger Federer following a gruelling run of matches on clay for the Scot. Photograph: Samuel de Roman/Rex Shutterstock If, as he said a few years ago, the only reading Andy Murray has done since school were a couple of Harry Potter books he will be familiar with the concept of a wizard living among less-blessed mortals known as Muggles.

He made the wholly correct decision to withdraw from the Rome Masters to ensure he is fresh and fit for the French Open in days’ time because gathering exhaustion was the collateral price the Scot has paid for an unprecedented run of success in a short space of time on clay. Yet…