Fernando Verdasco has claimed the decision to not award him a wild card to play at the Madrid Open was down to IMG despite efforts made by the tournament director.

The 38-year-old is among a series of Spanish players who have expressed dismay over the allocations of main draw passes this year. Out of the nine main draw wild cards which were up for grabs in both the men’s and women’s main draws, the only local player to receive one was Carlos Gimeno. In response a group of players issued a statement on April 20th criticizing the lack of support given to Spanish tennis. Among the supporters are world No.2 Paula Badosa who reached the Madrid semi-finals last year as a wild card.

“We find it surprising, as well as very frustrating, that the biggest tennis event in Spain shows such little (or no) support for Spanish tennis players with the invitations granted, especially to the main draws.” The statement reads.
“We understand that some of them (tournament organizers) give them (wild cards) at their own discretion, but not that in all of them their commercial interests prevail over Spanish sport and totally leaving the trajectory followed in previous years. We have many tennis players who have remained at the gates of being able to participate, and have been ignored in their requests to receive an invitation.”

In 2021 a total of six wild cards was given to home players – two in the women’s draw and four in the men’s. However, since then the tournament has changed ownership with IMG completing their takeover from Super Slam Ltd and its affiliates. Romania’s Iron Tiriac was the former owner.

Speaking about the situation following his second round win at the Estoril Open, Verdasco believes the blame lies with IMG over the lack of main draw wild cards for home players. The Madrid-born player had made 18 consecutive appearances at the Masters 1000 event and the last time he didn’t play was back in 2002 (excluding 2020 when the tournament was cancelled). His win-loss record currently stands at 19-18 with his best run being to the quarter-finals on two occasions.

“It’s my city, I played it for 17 years and now that I need it they give wild cards to a World No. 500 and one French. Pouille is my friend, but it makes no sense. It’s like Paris-Bercy giving me a wild-card instead of him.” Said Verdasco.

Verdasco, who is currently ranked 118th in the world, says tournament director Felciano Lopez tried to help get him a wild card but was unable to do so.

“Feliciano is my friend and I know by what he told IMG that he tried everything to help me get a wild card, but they told him no. So I’ll always defend him, but I have to be disappointed with the tournament and his boss, who now works for IMG.” He concluded.

List of 2022 Madrid Open main draw wildcards

Men
Andy Murray GBR
Jack Draper GBR
Carlos Gimeno ESP
Lucas Pouille FRA

Women
Naomi Osaka JPN
Linda Fruhvirtova CZE
Monica Puig PUR
Marta Kostyuk UKR
Qinwen Zheng CHN

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has revealed that she was closed quitting the sport last season after an injury lay-off which made her doubt if she could return to her best form again.

In 2021 Halep missed three months of action due to a calf injury that she sustained whilst playing in Rome. The setback forced her to miss two Grand Slam events, as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games. Then at the end of the season she withdrew from the Linz Open due to a knee problem. At the time the Romanian was already considering her future in the sport as she openly admits during an interview with Tennis Majors that she thought she would stop playing around the age of 30.

“I thought at 30 I would be done and I was close to be done this year,” Halep told Major Talk. “Actually last year, as well, after the injury I had.’
“At the beginning of the year (2022) I was a little bit better but still not very confident so I thought it may be the last period I could play tennis.”

The 30-year-old said she has managed to rediscover the ‘fire’ in her game once again by practicing at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France. It was during her time at the facility where she started to collaborate with Patrick Mouratoglou who ended his partnership with Serena Williams in order to coach Halep.

“I discovered this academy, I discovered something, the fire is back in my inside for tennis. Seeing the kids here doing everything possible to be at the top, I have it back. I needed that, to see in other people, in other kids, and I have it back.” She explained.

Halep approaches the upcoming clay swing with a win-loss record of 15-4 so far this year. At the start of the season she won her 23rd Tour title at the Melbourne Summer Set. Since then, she has also reached the semi-finals of tournaments in Dubai and Indian Wells.

Currently ranked 21st in the world, Halep already has plans for life beyond tennis which includes having children. However, at the moment her focus continues to be on the sport.

“I didn’t believe I would come back at the same level after the injury, because I was off about four months,” she reflected. “I had never been off four months from tennis, so I struggled big time last year. And also I thought at 30 it’s a good age to retire. I always thought about it but probably it was always in my mind.
“I would really love to have kids but they can wait a bit more because I have this pleasure I don’t want to give up.”

Halep will return to action on Thursday at the Madrid Open where she will play China’s Zhang Shuai in the first round.

After recent days of criticism towards British officials over their decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from tournaments this year, the first tennis federations have publicly expressed their support.

During their spring press conference on Wednesday, Wimbledon chiefs said they have ‘no viable option’ but to issue the ban in order to prevent the possibility of “being used to benefit the propaganda machine of the Russian regime”. Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine on February 24th and it is highly suspected that Belarus is supporting them. According to the UN at least 2,729 civilians have been killed and another 3111 injured but the figures are feared to be higher.

The move has split opinion in the sport with both the ATP and WTA both criticizing the decision. Earlier this year the sport’s seven governing bodies issued a statement saying that players from the two countries will still be allowed to participate in tournaments but only as neutral players. Steve Simon, who is the head of the WTA, has hinted that there will be a ‘strong reaction’ from his organization. It is understood that both the ATP and WTA will meet in the coming days during the Madrid Open. In the most extreme scenario, they could decide to revoke their licenses to LTA events or remove their ability to award ranking points.

“We recognize that whatever decision we took, we’ll be setting a precedent,” said Wimbledon CEO Sally Bolton. “We made our judgment in the context of the scale of the response to an international war, the consequences of which reach far wider than the sport of tennis. We appreciate that this is an immensely difficult decision on which people have different views, which we respect and we understand, and we are deeply regretful of the impact that this will have on every single player who is affected.”

Ian Hewitt, who is chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, says the ban was influenced by guidance given by the British government on the matter.

“We believe we have made the most responsible decision possible in the circumstances and that, within the framework of the government’s position, there is no viable alternative to the decision we have taken in this truly exceptional and tragic situation.” He said.

It remains to be seen if other countries will take similar actions in the future. It is understood that the Italian government is currently considering whether to allow Russian and Belarusian players to participate at the upcoming Internazionali BNL d’Italia. A Masters 1000 event for the men and WTA 1000 for the women.

Meanwhile, the tennis federations of four nordic countries have issued a joint-statement in support of the ban by Wimbledon and the LTA. Officials from Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Norway have backed the move. The only country from the region not to co-sign is Denmark but it is unclear as to why.

“We, the undersigned federations, support the position the LTA and AELTC have taken regarding Russian and Belarusian players competing in events in Great Britain. In these exceptional times, tennis must do all it can to stand with the people of Ukraine against the hostility of the Russian and Belarusian states.” The statement reads.

Besides the statement issued from the four countries, no other tennis federations are yet to formally comment on the matter. Furthermore, there has been no statement issued by the International Tennis Federation.

The ban applies to all ATP and WTA events set to take place in Britain this year, as well as Wimbledon.