Andrea Vavassori beat Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 (9-7) after 1 hour and 33 minutes to score the biggest win of his career at the Madrid Mutua Open.
Vavassori won 76% of net points. The Italian qualifier went up a 4-0 lead with a double break in the opening set and held on his next service game to win the first set 6-2.
Vavassori earned an early break at the start of the second set. Murray broke back in the eighth game. The British player saved four match points in the tie-break, but he hit two volleys into the net.
“It’s a dream come true. To play at a tournament like this, on a court like this this, on a court like this against a true champion like him. I have followed his whole career. He is a hero for everybody on the Tour. I think until the second set, I played the best tennis of my life. The nerves came in, but at the end, I just felt joy”, said Vavassori.
Murray lost his third straight Masters 1000 opening round match. After losing to Alex De Minaur two weeks ago in Monte-Carlo, Murray is still chasing his first clasy win this season.
“Certainly the beginning of the clay season has not been so easy, but normally after a few weeks, I start to feel better and play better. Obvioously last year I am not saying I came here and played unbelievable tennis straightaway, but I was playing well enough to win matches, against top players ”, said Murray