Sore hip rules Murray out of Hurlingham exhibition

World No 1 pulls out of Pouille match as a precaution

Andy Murray pulled out of his scheduled Wimbledon warm-up match at the Hurlingham Club yesterday because of a sore hip.

The world No 2 had scheduled two matches at the exhibition Aspall Tennis Classic event following his first-round exit at Queen’s Club last week.

He had been due to take on Frenchman Lucas Pouille, but his management announced that he would not take to the court because his hip was “a bit sore”.

The decision was described as a precaution, with Murray still planning to contest the second match against an as-yet-unnamed opponent on Friday.

But it is not the preparation the Scot would have wanted as he readies himself to defend his Wimbledon title.

Murray’s difficult season has been punctuated with health problems, including shingles, an elbow injury and two bouts of flu.

Meanwhile rain washed out the allBritish showdown between Marcus Willis and Liam Broady in the Wimbledon qualifiers yesterday.

Willis, 26, who memorably faced Roger Federer on Centre Court in the second round at the All England Club last year, was due to face compatriot and friend Broady in the penultimate qualifying round at Roehampton.

But play was suspended at around 1pm as the heavens opened in south-west London.

Broady, 23, is also looking for a return to Wimbledon having been beaten by Murray in the first round last year.

Willis is currently the British No 9 and ranked 374 in the world, 10 places higher than Broady, the national number 10.

The homegrown pair will have to try again today, with the winner then facing either Illya Marchenko of Ukraine or German veteran Benjamin Becker for a place in the main draw.

Of the Brits who did manage to play yesterday morning 18-year-old Katie Swan, of Bristol, was beaten 6-3 5-7 6-0 by Uzbekistan’s Nigina Abduraimova.

Hong Kong-born Tara Moore, 24, tumbled out 7-5 6-2 to American Irina Falconi while Katy Dunne was forced off at 2-2 in the first set against Serbia’s Ivana Jorovic.