The distribution of the invitations for the Mutua Madrid Open has led to a controversial episode after several Spanish tennis players, led by Fernando Verdasco, protested the absence of these invitations to Spanish players.
One of the beneficiaries of these invitations has been the British Andy Murray, champion of the Mutua Madrid Open in 2008 and 2015 and who would not have achieved a direct place due to his ranking (he is currently 83 in the ATP ranking). Despite being a two-time champion of the tournament, Murray was showered with numerous criticisms to which the British responded with this message: “It’s amazing how quickly people forget in tennis.”
Amazing how quickly people forget in tennis ????
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) April 20, 2022
Murray’s response, since Murray himself debated with several users who were against his invitation. “I’m happier than playing qualifiers. Most likely in Rome I will play qualifiers. If a tournament invites me to go and play in the main draw, are you suggesting that I should decline the invitation? and play the preview?
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?
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) April 20, 2022
Murray also expressed his discrepancies with the distribution of the invitations to the tournaments and assures that it should be fairer. “Any tournament can give its invites to whoever it wants. But the fact that I’m British shouldn’t make me more deserving of a Wimbledon invite. Would Holger Rune deserve it less than a Spanish tennis player?
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?
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) April 21, 2022
Murray also acknowledged that British and Spanish tennis players receive many invitations to the tournaments on the calendar and that he believes that those invitations should be for tennis players from countries that do not host major tournaments. “Nobody is saying it’s crazy and you have the right to say that. A lot of players don’t come from countries that have big tournaments. Isn’t it unfair that these players can’t get wildcards? It’s true that British players benefit a lot from invitations Also Spanish tennis players. And I don’t think this is fair.”
Nobody is saying it’s crazy and you’re entitled to that opinion. Many players don’t come from countries that happen to host big tennis tournaments. Isn’t that very unfair that those players won’t get any wild cards?
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) April 21, 2022