Jeremy Chardy takes swipe at Andy Murray ahead of their French Open clash
Sunday 31 May 2015 15:17, UK
Andy Murray's French Open fourth-round opponent has had a public dig at the British No 1 for pulling out of May's Rome Masters with fatigue.
Frenchman Jeremy Chardy lost 6-4 6-3 to Murray in the second round of the ATP Tour event but was angered when the British No 1 pulled out in the next round, claiming tiredness after a long winning streak on clay.
"I was a little bit upset. I mean, when you are starting a tournament and he beat me first round, and he's so confident and he wants to be one of the best players, win a Grand Slam.
"If you want to win a Grand Slam, everybody is tired, for me. So I was a little bit upset when I see he retired because of tiredness. But it's his choice, and, I mean, for the moment he's doing well. So if he wins Roland Garros, everybody will say it was a good choice. If he loses, it will be wrong."
Chardy, the only one of the five Frenchmen in the draw to reach the fourth round who is not seeded, says the fact that Frenchwomen Amelie Mauresmo is in Murray's camp should make no difference to the home support.
"Amelie did a really great job with Andy, but the support will be for me, because Amelie stopped to play now," said Chardy.
"So it is a guy from England against a French guy, so I hope the crowd will be 100 per cent for me."
Chardy has reached the last 16 once before, in 2008, while Murray has twice been to the semi-final, losing to Rafa Nadal on both occasions, most recently last year.
