Andrea Vavassori has expressed his admiration for three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, who he recently defeated at the 2023 Madrid Open on Thursday, April 28. Vavassori’s victory came in the Round of 64 in Madrid, where he defeated Murray 6-2, 7-6(7) in an hour and 32 minutes. The World No. 52 from Britain saved four match points in the second-set tiebreak but ultimately experienced frustration, screaming and smashing his racket off the bench.
Vavassori’s victory and admiration for Murray
In an on-court interview, Vavassori, who scored the biggest win of his career so far, praised Murray and remarked that he was a fan of the two-time Wimbledon winner. He described his triumph as a dream come true and noted playing against a true champion. Reflecting on his performance, Vavassori acknowledged that nerves got the better of him in the second half of the second set. However, the Italian player broke Murray thrice and hit 23 winners to his 35-year-old opponent’s 15.
Murray’s disappointment and upcoming challenges
In a press conference after the match, a disappointed Murray commended Vavassori for his performance, who will now face Daniil Medvedev in the second round. The former World No. 1 discussed his slow start, admitting that his opponent played very well in the beginning and served huge, making it difficult to control the game. Despite this, Murray started playing better and saw some positive signs in the second set.
Uncertainty regarding the 2023 French Open
Andy Murray faced an opening-round exit at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he lost to Alex de Minaur earlier this month. When asked if he will play at the 2023 French Open, Murray stated that although his goal was Wimbledon, he wanted to play in Paris as well. The British tennis star expressed his desire to seize the opportunity to play due to not knowing if he’ll ever have another chance. However, he also acknowledged his ambition to compete for Wimbledon titles and maintained his belief in the possibility of it happening. Currently, Murray has a win-loss record of 8-7 in 2023.
