Andy Murray into Madrid Open third spherical with effective win over Denis Shapovalov

Andy Murray is thru to the third spherical of the Madrid Open after defeating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in three units.

Murray upset world quantity 14 Shapovalov 6-1 3-6 6-2 in two hours and 9 minutes to arrange a last-16 match in opposition to previous foe and world primary Novak Djokovic.

The previous rivals have recognized one another since they have been kids and faced-off 36 instances of their skilled careers.

“He’s the world primary and I’ve obtained a steel hip,” Murray instructed Amazon Prime.

“I didn’t know I’d get alternatives to play matches like this once more. In principle I shouldn’t have an opportunity within the match.

“However I’ve labored my hardest, put myself in an amazing place and it’s a improbable alternative to play in opposition to him once more on a giant court docket in an enormous match.”

The 34-year-old Scot, who marked his return to clay for the primary time in two years in Madrid with a straight-sets win in opposition to Dominic Thiem within the first spherical, proved too robust for Shapovalov within the deciding set.

Murray raced into an early lead, breaking Shapovalov’s serve twice on his method to taking the opening set in 36 minutes.

The British quantity three, behind Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans within the home rankings, heaped extra stress on Shapovalov’s serve within the fifth recreation of the second set.

However Murray squandered two break factors and was damaged for the primary time within the match within the subsequent recreation to path 5-2 earlier than Shapovalov served out to degree at one set all after one hour and 25 minutes of play.

The deciding set went with serve till the fifth recreation, earlier than Murray seized on his first break level of the set to edge forward 4-2.

The Scot, presently 78th within the ATP rankings, held once more for 5-2 and went 40-0 forward on Shapovalov’s serve earlier than sealing one other spectacular win on his third match level.

“I educated very exhausting the previous 4 or 5 weeks and obtained my recreation in good condition,” Murray stated of his efficiency post-match.

“My motion has been so a lot better than the place it was at first of the 12 months and it makes an enormous distinction to my complete recreation.

“It permits me to make completely different choices on the court docket. My motion gained me that match tonight. I defended so many factors.

“(Shapovalov) has a lot energy and I managed to defend a number of factors and that gained the match for me, so I used to be actually proud of that.”

Murray reversed his determination to skip the whole clay-court season after being handed a wild card for Madrid and 4 weeks of coaching on the floor seems to have paid dividends.

Murray has not performed Djokovic for the reason that Qatar Open in January 2017, when the Briton was world primary. The Serbian gained in three units.

Djokovic counseled the Scot on his willpower to return to kind after twice present process hip surgical procedure – first in 2018 after which once more in 2019 when his ache continued.

The Serb instructed the ATP Tour web site: “(Murray is) shifting properly, taking part in higher and higher. It’s actually improbable to see, as a result of he’s an vital participant for our recreation.

“He’s made his mark within the historical past of our sport by successful a number of Slams and gold medals and (reaching) No. 1 of the world. He’s probably the most vital names that we’ve.

“To have him nonetheless compete is nice, and to have him even play at (a) excessive degree because the time goes by is spectacular, contemplating the surgical procedure and what he has been by prior to now few years. His resilience and preventing spirit is absolutely inspiring.”

Djokovic beat France’s Gael Monfils 6-3 6-2 in his second-round match after being handed a bye within the opening spherical.