Defending champion Fernando Verdasco is upset with Barcelona Open officials for failing to hold a wild card for him. Officials countered that the world No. 8 had plenty of time to directly enter the main draw. The Spaniard will instead play in Estoril, Portugal.
"The reason I’m not going Barcelona—ask the tournament officials who decide who they want to play," Verdasco told the Spanish press. "Nadal is coming back and there’s a person whom I’m not going to say who it is, but who has had no interest in me playing. I hate going places, especially in Spain, where they are not interested who plays. In Estoril, they are."
Verdasco is also upset that wild cards were handed out to non-Spaniards and added that the tournament doesn’t appreciate him even though he made a big effort to play it last year after Nadal pulled out.
"I am not vindictive or anything, but sad and disappointed with certain people who are responsible and Albert [Costa] because he has given priority to foreign players like Tsonga, Soderling instead of Spanish [players] and I think that is a mistake," he said.Costa, who is also Spain’s Davis Cup captain, said that Verdasco is still welcome at the event.—Matthew Cronin