Former world No. 7 Fernando Verdasco has clarified that he has nothing against Andy Murray receiving a Madrid Masters wildcard. After the Madrid organizers announced wildcard recipients, Verdasco shared a lengthy message in which he voiced his frustraion over the Madrid wildcards selection.
Of the four wildcards granted on the men’s side, only one went to a Spanish player as Murray, Jack Draper, Lucas Pouille and Carlos Gimeno received wildcards. On the women’s side, five wildcards were given but not a single wildcard was handed to a Spanish player.
“Andy Murray Of course you should not turn it down,” Verdasco said. “In my opinion, no doubt you are the one on the list that most deserves getting a wildcard in Madrid. Good luck at the tournament. PS. I would have been more than happy to have the chance to play qualifying too!”
The Verdasco message to which Murray initially responded
“We find it surprising, as well as very frustrating, that the biggest tennis event in Spain shows so little (or no) support towards Spanish tennis players with the invitations granted, especially for the main draws (… ) Their commercial interests take precedence over Spanish sport and deviate completely from the trajectory followed in previous years (…) If we consider any other tournament in the same category, the support given to local players is immensely greater.
Without going any further, the Rome tournament, which takes place the week after Madrid, has already announced its first five invitations and all of them are for Italian players,” the message Verdasco posted read. After Verdasco posted this message, people started tagging and calling out Murray.
Murray then defended himself by stating he was offered a wildcard and it was his right to accept it. “Any tournament can give their wild cards to whoever they want. But just because I’m British shouldn’t make me more ‘deserving’ of a wild card than anyone else for Wimbledon. Holger Rune is less deserving than a local Spanish player?” Murray responded.
