TNT Sports
Andy Murray shouts 'it's so bad' as he crashes out of Madrid Open with defeat against qualifier Andrea Vavassori
By
Published 27/04/2023 at 19:35 GMT+1
Murray said he might end his clay court season early after a disappointing display at the Monte Carlo Masters but returned to action in Madrid at a competition where he has twice been successful during his career. However, he was well off the pace as Vavassori took control with a dominant first-set performance and despite a second-set fightback from Murray, he's out along with Kyle Edmund.
Highlights: Murray loses to Italian qualifier Vavassori at Madrid Open
Video credit: SNTV
Andy Murray is out of the Madrid Open after being beaten by world No.164 Andrea Vavassori.
Murray had been considering whether or not to continue with his clay court season after suffering what he called a “demoralising” defeat to Alex De Minaur in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters.
He may well have been regretting his decision to keep going when he found himself 4-0 down in the first set with little more than a quarter of an hour played.
Murray - who has twice been champion in the Spanish capital - got himself on the board by holding two service games but Vavassori was in full control to take the first set.
As accustomed with Murray, he was determined to put his disappointing start behind him and did so by holding serve in the first game of the second set. A wicked forehand winner kicking up off the baseline was the confidence boost he needed.
However, the former world No.1’s resistance did not last long and qualifier Vavassori took the first break of the second set as he pounced on every Murray mistake.
The Italian’s big serve was proving an issue for Murray and on the rare occasion his opponent gifted him openings to exploit, the Brit was rarely able to convert. With a generous amount of court to aim for, Murray slammed a backhand shot wide into the tramline leaving him to scream “it’s so bad” towards his coaching team.
With the game seemingly falling away from Murray at a rapid pace, he found renewed energy and a more confident shot selection on his way to breaking back. Like on so many occasions in his career, Murray was showing that he was not yet beaten and the second set went to a tie break.
Vavassori took total control with some huge forehand shots, while consecutive losses of serve for Murray put him on the verge of exiting the competition but Vavassori failed to take three match points and Murray breathed yet another sigh of relief.
Murray kept fighting and saved a fourth match point - which he conceded by somehow volleying into the net when standing inches from it - but at the fifth time of asking, the Italian secured victory and progressed 6-2 7-6(7).
Vavassori called the result "a dream come true" and will now face Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
Meanwhile, Kyle Edmund is still waiting for his first tour win of the year after going down in straight sets to Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-1.
Their match started tightly and it was Edmund who had the first chance to break but proceeded to miss two opportunities, which he would live to regret with Thiem taking his first and only chance of the first set on the Brit’s serve before closing out to take the advantage.
As close a battle as the first set had been, the second was a different story with Edmund being broken three service games in a row, while once again failing to convert any break points of his own.
Thiem will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round and is aiming to continue rediscovering his form.
Speaking after his win over Edmund, Thiem said: “It's time to work again on that reputation. Once I was a tough guy to beat on clay. It's not the case now but I'm feeling that I'm getting better and back to shape."
- - -
Stream the French Open on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement