Andy Murray dismisses criticism from Virginia Wade after he was branded a 'drama queen'

Andy Murray has hit back at Virginia Wade after the former Wimbledon champion branded him a "drama queen" in his second-round comeback against Jarkko Nieminen at the French Open.

The British number one looked set to retire through injury before turning the match around to claim a remarkable 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2.

The world number four woke up yesterday morning with a back spasm that meant he could not put much weight on his left leg and almost did not take to the court at all.

He was barely able to move or serve at times early on and was seen by the trainer three times during the match.

Wade, commenting for Eurosport, said: "I have tremendous sympathy that his back is bad, but I have more sympathy for the other guy as, honestly, you cannot play against someone who is being a drama queen."

Responding to the comments, the Scot said in the Guardian: "To me that's quite disappointing, to be honest. I know how I felt on the court. I know how bad it was.

"And then you have people like that who always have to come out and say something controversial when, really, they should be supportive or maybe ask me a question first before commenting on it.

"I've known her since I was a really young kid. She used to do coaching stuff with my mum since I was a really young child. She has no idea what I was feeling on the court. She doesn't know what was happening 20 minutes before I went out on to the court, what I was feeling, what I was doing.

"It is lonely (on court) but before the match I was there with the guys, talking about what I should do, and then, when I was out on the court, especially the first few sets, I wasn't looking up at anyone or engaging with anything they were saying at all, because I was just so down about how I was feeling.

"And I don't really see what the point would be in play-acting, going down 6-1, 4-2. I don't really see what the point would be in putting yourself in a position where you're about to lose, and stop the match, and then somehow manage to turn it around."