Andy Murray to have season-ending surgery on back problem

In this May 31, 2012 file photo, Andy Murray of Britain grimaces as a doctor tends to his back injury in his second round match against Jarkko Nieminen of Finland at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (AP / Michel Euler)

LONDON -- Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will have minor surgery on a long-standing back problem and is set to miss the rest of the season.

"The aim is to be fully fit for the new season," said a statement released by Murray's management company on Thursday.

The third-ranked Murray is likely to miss the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London on Nov. 4-11, as well as the Masters events in Shanghai and Paris in October. There are 13 tournaments left on this year's schedule.

Murray has had problems with his back before this year, but the complaint flared up at the Rome Masters in May, forcing him to pull out of the French Open that month.

He returned to win grass-court titles at the Queen's Club and Wimbledon, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final to become Britain's first male singles champion at the All England Club in 77 years.

"But after recently playing on hard courts and clay, Andy once again sought medical advice about solving the issue once and for all," the statement said.

The Scot's last competitive outing of 2013 looks set to be in Britain's Davis Cup match against Croatia last week, when he won two singles to help his team return to the world group.