METZ: Switzerland’s Aus­tralian Open champion Stan Wawrinka’s withdrawal from next week’s ATP Moselle Open because he said he was tired has not gone down well with the organisers.

The 29-year-old Swiss —who was not the only late high profile withdrawal as Frenchman Gilles Simon also pulled out — had his image liberally used in advance publicity for the event after agreeing to play back in January.

He was due to be the top seed.

“The tournament directors did not welcome the news at all of the withdrawal of Stan Wawrinka,” the organi­sers said in a statement.

“He notified us simply by email that he would not be competing as he is fatigued.

“The directors are extremely disappointed and angry. They won’t take this lying down.”

The world number four explained that he was exhausted after performing at the US Open followed by this week’s Davis Cup semi-finals.

Simon pulled out because he is suffering from a wrist injury which prevented him from playing in this weekend’s Davis Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic.

Published in Dawn, September 14th , 2014