Wimbledon debentures news: Andy Murray annoys sponsors with 'experiment' comments

26/02/2010

Andy Murray has come in for criticism over his experimentation at tournaments prior to appearing in front of tennis fans with Wimbledon debentures.

The world number four was knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships by unseeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic and proceeded to admit that he had used the high-profile event to try out new tactics.

His plan backfired, with the Scottish star going out in three sets to his opponent, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.

Murray's comments frustrated the Dubai event's principal sponsor Barclays, with the financial institution's tennis consultant John Beddington saying he was disappointed.

"This is one of the top events at '500' level on the ATP Tour," Mr Beddington said. "If he is going to be testing out new strategies, a match of this significance was probably not the place to do it."

It is not the first time that Murray's actions have irritated a tournament.

Earlier this month, Jean-Francois Caujolle called for the 22-year-old to be suspended from the ATP Tour after he pulled out of the Open13 tournament in Marseilles at short notice.

Posted by Sam Smith