“Andy Murray is taking a spot from a young Spanish talent” Fernando Verdasco slams Madrid Open over impartial treatment, the Brit responds


“Andy Murray is taking a spot from a young Spanish talent” Fernando Verdasco slams Madrid Open over impartial treatment, the Brit responds

Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco

Former World No. 7 and currently ranked 121st in the world, Fernando Verdasco hit out at the organisers of the upcoming 2022 Madrid Open for handing out wildcards to foreigners instead of the local talents. Verdasco himself has been playing qualifiers for a while now due to his low ranking.

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Four wildcards were announced yesterday of which only 1 Spanish player was present and it was not Verdasco, meaning that the 38-year old would have to play through the qualifiers and fight for a place in the main-draw. Verdasco was not happy with the decision and he released a statement on Twitter where he questioned that despite being a Spanish tournament, why the wildcards did not feature more Spaniards even if it was not him.

Fernando Verdasco’ statement

Fernando Verdasco
Fernando Verdasco

While Fernando wrote in Spanish, below are some of the key statements where the Spaniard spoke his heart out on what he believes is the impartial treatment and ignorance of local talents to cater for the needs of foreign players who in his opinion should have played the qualifiers instead of Spanish players.

“Before the announcement today of the Mutua Madrid Open regarding the invitations that they are going to offer for this year’s tournament, many Spanish players cannot help but give our opinion on the matter. We find it surprising, as well as very frustrating, that the biggest tennis event in Spain shows so little (or no) support for Spanish tennis players with the invitations granted, especially to the main draws.

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“We have many tennis players who have been at the gates of being able to participate, and have been ignored in their requests to receive an invitation. If we look at any other tournament in the same category, the support shown to local tennis players is immensely higher. Without going any further, the tournament in Rome, the week after the one in Madrid, has already announced its first five invitations, and all of them are for Italian tennis players.

“We fully trust that the main sponsors of the tournament, including the Madrid City Council, Mutua Madrileña and Spanish companies (as well as the Spanish sports federations and mostly national spectators), want to support Spanish tennis and invest in this tournament with the intention of helping our sport and hoping to see the greatest possible Spanish presence, so we imagine that they share our disappointment and we hope that they will express it as well,” tweeted Verdasco later tweeting the list of players handed the wildcards.

Fan calls out Andy Murray for accepting wildcards

Andy Murray
Andy Murray

Andy Murray recently broke into the Top-100 after having spent nearly 45 months in rankings with 3-digits. As a result, he had to often apply for wildcards which he was granted for being a 3-time Grand Slam champion, 2-time Olympic Gold medallist and also a former World No. 1.

A Twitter user tagged Murray saying, “Maybe ask @andy_murray why he’s taking a spot from a young Spanish talent? He feels too good for qualies?” to which the Brit promptly replied, “More than happy to play qualifying. Will most likely play qualies in Rome. If a tournament invites me to come and play in the main draw are you suggesting I should turn it down and play quailes?”

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The ATP Tour and the organisers have made no comments so far on the issue.

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