Andy Murray withdraws from Queen's with abdominal injury

Five-time champion Andy Murray has withdrawn from Queen's because of an abdominal strain he picked up in the Stuttgart final on Sunday.

Murray, 35, had a scan on Monday afternoon in London and has decided to skip the Cinch Championships after it revealed the level of the damage.

Murray hopes to be fit enough to play at Wimbledon, which starts on 27 June.

The British former world number one might play an exhibition at the Hurlingham Club in London next week.

"After having a scan this afternoon, an abdominal injury means I won't be fit to compete at Queen's this year," Murray said.

"The tournament means a lot to me, and it's disappointing not to compete, especially after playing some good matches on the grass already."

It is not an injury Murray has suffered before and is another cruel setback for the three-time Grand Slam champion.

On Monday, Murray climbed to 47th in the world rankings - his highest placing since coming back from career-threatening hip surgery in January 2019.

Murray has continued to defy the odds since the hip resurfacing operation - where the femoral head is smoothed down and covered with a metal cap - but also encountered several niggling injuries that have stalled his progress.

He has played nine matches on grass in the past fortnight, having reached the semi-finals at an ATP Challenger event in Surbiton before his run to the Stuttgart final on the main tour.

Murray struggled with the left abdominal problem in the third set of his defeat by Italy's Matteo Berrettini in Sunday's match.

The Scot received medical treatment twice and was in visible discomfort when serving.