The man who helped Jamie Murray become the best doubles player in the world last year suggested yesterday that the Scot had been snubbed by Wimbledon organisers after having to play on one of the outside courts.

While Murray said he had no complaints about them having been asked to play their opening match against Roman Jebavy and Jiri Vesely on Court Five, Bruno Soares registered dismay on his partner’s behalf.

“I was very surprised. Jamie’s not. I think it’s not nice,” said the Brazilian after the third seeds in the men’s doubles had shut out the distractions in the congested surroundings as hundreds of spectators jockeyed for a glimpse of their match, to come through the tie in straight sets 7-6 6-2, 6-4.

“It’s difficult for our friends and family to see, imagine what it’s like for the rest of the people?”

Asked where he thought they should be playing Soares made it clear that he was not demanding to be on one of the show courts at this early stage in the doubles.

“I think 14 to 17 is fine, at least where people can see the courts and all the match. Court five literally fits 50 people.”

And he suggested that his partner’s status in the sport ought to have merited greater respect.

“I just think because it’s Jamie… he’s not going to say that, but for what he brings to British tennis playing at Wimbledon, he’s a member here, I don’t think it’s nice.”

The pair won both the Australian and US Opens in 2016 which ended with Jamie matching his younger brother by claiming end of year world number one status and having won the mixed doubles title her exactly a decade ago, he is anxious to add the Wimbledon men’s doubles crown to his list of achievements.

“It’s a home Grand Slam. Not so many players get that opportunity so that’s obviously huge and we’ve won Australia, we’ve won the US Open, so if we were going to choose to win another one it would be here or the French Open,” he said.