Sandgren, 26, was forced to deny supporting the controversial alt-right movement when he received backlash over who he followed on social media.

He insisted he merely found “some of the content interesting”.

The world number 97 read a statement on Wednesday from his phone addressing the scrutiny of his political beliefs after losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals against South Korea’s Chung Hyeon.

He said: “With a handful of follows and some likes on Twitter, my fate has been sealed in your minds.

“You dehumanise with pen and paper and turn neighbour against neighbour. In so doing, you may actually find you’re hastening the hell you wish to avoid, the hell we all wish to avoid.

“It is my firm belief that the highest value must be placed on the virtue of each individual, regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

“It’s my job to continue on this journey with the goal of becoming the best me I can and to embody the love Christ has for me, for I answer to Him and Him alone.”

Sandgren has since changed his Twitter bio to insist what he will “write all tweets on a napkin first to order my thoughts” and that tweets he liked or retweeted “are not endorsements”.

However, he has subsequently deleted all his messages on the social media platform bar one.

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Sandgren, 26, was forced to deny supporting the controversial alt-right movement when he received backlash over who he followed on social media.

He insisted he merely found “some of the content interesting”.

The world number 97 read a statement on Wednesday from his phone addressing the scrutiny of his political beliefs after losing in the Australian Open quarter-finals against South Korea’s Chung Hyeon.

He said: “With a handful of follows and some likes on Twitter, my fate has been sealed in your minds.

“You dehumanise with pen and paper and turn neighbour against neighbour. In so doing, you may actually find you’re hastening the hell you wish to avoid, the hell we all wish to avoid.

“It is my firm belief that the highest value must be placed on the virtue of each individual, regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

“It’s my job to continue on this journey with the goal of becoming the best me I can and to embody the love Christ has for me, for I answer to Him and Him alone.”

Sandgren has since changed his Twitter bio to insist what he will “write all tweets on a napkin first to order my thoughts” and that tweets he liked or retweeted “are not endorsements”.

However, he has subsequently deleted all his messages on the social media platform bar one.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this…

Producers of the BBC programme – broadcast on Tuesday night – were accused by senior Anglican figures of painting an inaccurate picture of the Lancashire town and overlooking the work of faith groups to promote community cohesion.

The Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Julain Henderson said: “The Diocese and Cathedral didn’t get the chance to take part in this documentary, so I urge the Panorama team to visit Blackburn again soon and tell the full story of what is happening here.

“We will be happy to speak to them.”

The show, named ‘White Fright’, claimed that Blackburn is becoming increasingly segregated along ethnic and religious lines.

Intended as a follow-up to a programme aired in 2007 – which did feature Blackburn Cathedral – it featured interviews with various members of the community about the state of race relations in the town.

Anjum Anwar thinks “integration is about how do you live with the difference, not becoming the same”. #BBCPanorama pic.twitter.com/Es1KO80diJ

— Panorama (@BBCPanorama) January 22, 2018

Bishop Julian, went on to say: “There are challenges of course, but Blackburn is not unique in that regard and we are involved in many initiatives where people from different backgrounds live, work, play and associate together.”

“We engage together on topics of mutual interest at our active Anglican/Muslim forum.”

The Bishop of Burnley Rt Rev Philip North added: “Blackburn also has numerous faith…