Not everyone becomes number 1 in the world and less in an era dominated by the three best players in the history of tennis. Andy Murray (currently 89th in the world ranking) had the privilege of being the only one to reach this position with the Big 3 active, but a hip injury sidelined him for a long time.
Since his injury in the 2017 Wimbledon quarterfinals, the Scotsman’s career has not been the same. However, his return a year later brought him more benefits than expected. Being then No. 1 Murray had the possibility to use the protected ranking in his return, which allows him not to face high caliber players in the first rounds and to play qualy.
From his return to Queen’s until the activity was stopped due to the pandemic, he received six invitations to tournaments and used the same amount in protected ranking. All this in a total of 14 disputed contests.
According to the ATP, this ranking protection rule can be used within 12 months of the player playing his first match or in the first 12 tournaments he plays, if he wishes to use them unless he receives a Wild Card. Although there are nine months and tournaments where this rule can be made, when a player spends a year out of competition, it is extended to 12. Case of Andy Murray.
Once the circuit was resumed due to the stoppage of the pandemic, the Scotsman played 28 tournaments, of which 25 were thanks to invitations. The controversy arises because, although Murray became one of the best of the decade, the number of Wild Crads that he received and continues to receive (he was invited to Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai ’22) is already almost abusive.
With these invitations, he deprives himself of playing the qualifiers that should be contested due to his current ranking (89th) and of give young promises the opportunity to show themselves to the world, as happened at Roland Garros 2020 where it sparked a lot of controversy.
In total and so far, he has received 31 wildcards to play tournaments and add essential points; and surely this number will increase because the series of two is coming Masters 1000 (Miami e Indian Wells) where the organizers are not going to want to risk having the Scotsman out of competition in qualifying.
