Andy Murray spent an emotional late-night on court at the Citi Open in August.
The former world No. 1's days as a competitor in Washington, DC are likely done.
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Asked during an Instagram Q & A today if he would play the tournament again, Murray replied: "Probably not after the tournament director rinsed me.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion was hurt by comments Washington, DC tournament director Keely O’Brien made to The Washington Post after Murray suggested he would withdraw prior to his quarterfinal vs. Alex de Minaur last August because of exhaustion.
"I hope that Andy really takes into consideration this role in his sport and as a global role model to guys and girls on the tour and kids around the world that, when things are difficult and tough and the conditions aren’t great, it’s not OK to just give up,” the tournament director told the Washington Post.
Given the fact Murray was playing just his third tournament after undergoing hip surgery in January and that he broke down in tears after defeating Romania’s Marius Copil, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) at the Citi Open in a match that took over three hours and ended after 3 a.m., the tournament director's criticism struck many as completely tone deaf.
Now, it seems, those comments have sealed the Scot's decision to skip Washington, DC in the future.
Photo credit: Andy Murray Instagram