Italian Open 2012 Results: Andy Murray Knocked Out, Reveals Back Injury That May End Season

And it’s rest that the Brit apparently needs.

The No. 4-seeded Murray lost in a marathon match today to No. 16 Richard Gasquet of France. The three-hour match ended with a final score of 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-2.

The long match brought pains to Murray’s back. His back, he revealed today, has been injured since December.

From the ATP:

“It was long match and I had a sore back towards the end but I was expecting that coming to the tournament,” he said. “I didn’t take a break because I’ve been training and playing a lot but the muscles are more tired and fatigued.

“I don’t want to go into detail here about it and the treatment but it’s been there for a while - since December. You wait for the right moment and then there is the French Open and then Wimbledon and then the US Open coming up and there is not much time for rest - anything goes. The best time to do it is now so when the French Open comes up I will be in peak condition.”

That peak condition will need to be at Murray’s side in nine days.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all advanced. On the women’s side, Venus Williams defeated 2011 U.S. Open Champion Sam Stosur in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Stosur was the tournament’s No. 5 seed. Williams’ little sister, Serena, Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova also advanced on Day 5.