Andy Murray’s decision to play this year’s clay court season was a big surprise after he damaged ankle ligaments at the Miami Open and now the decision is under scrutiny again after Murray revealed he is suffering from a recurring back problem.

Murray has pulled out of next week’s Surbiton Trophy after initially confirming he would enter the grass court ATP Challenger event in London, where he won the title last year.

Yet Murray, beaten in the first round of the French Open by Stan Wawrinka on Sunday, stayed in Paris to play doubles with Dan Evans.

After they were defeated in the first round on Friday, Murray revealed he was “struggling a little bit” with his back. The LTA announced on Saturday evening that Murray had withdrawn from Surbiton, with Murray saying: “Unfortunately I won’t be back to defend my title this year. It’s been a tough decision but one my team and I felt we needed to make.”

Now Murray has revealed his back problem is a recurring issue that often flares up when he plays on clay courts. “I really didn’t feel good,” said Murray after he lost in the French Open doubles tournament alongside fellow Brit Dan Evans.

“My back has been a problem the last few weeks for practice and stuff. It has not been great. “To be honest, I always used to have a procedure on my back the week before the French Open. In my prime, clay always caused issues with my back. I didn’t this year [and] it has not been that comfortable.

“I was moving okay, really not feeling that comfortable on the court. I am hoping when I get home I will have a procedure on my back and have a few days’ rest and then should be fine.” Murray went on to expalin he was never likely to play at Surbiton as he wants to play at a higher level in what could be the final weeks of his career before a planned retirement later this year.

“I don’t feel like I am letting the tournament down by that,” he said. “I was asked to enter the tournament because the LTA want to use the wildcards for guys that need them. “I said it was unlikely that I was going to play. I want to try and compete at the highest level possible.”

Murray’s back injury confession will raise questions over his decision to compete on clay courts over the last few weeks, with his best hope of success in his final year as a professional always likely to come on grass courts in June and July.

The two-time Wimbledon champion enjoyed success at ATP Challenger level when he won the titles at Surbiton and Nottingham last year, but he has decided to skip both of those events this time to play in the ATP Tour event in Stuttgart instead.

He will then move on to the high-quality ATP Tour 500 tournament at the Queen’s Club later this month, where he will be unseeded and is likely to come up against a top quality opponent in the opening ground. The back problem that is troubling him adds to the issues Murray is dealing with, with the 36-year-old in danger of lacking the grass court matches he would want heading into his final Wimbledon if he loses early in Stuttgart and at Queen’s.

Murray has also hinted that he could play doubles with his brother Jamie at Wimbledon next month, in what could be an emotional final appearance at the All England Club for the Murray brothers.