(Tennis news) Andy Murray defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-1 3-6 6-2 in two hours and nine minutes to set up a last 16 meeting with world No 1 Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open. The Scottish tennis player produced a magnificent first-set display but Shapovalov fought hard to level the match. However, Murray ended up sealing a 6-1 3-6 6-2 win in two hours and nine minutes. 

It will be the first time since 2017 that Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will face each other. The Serbian advanced to the last 16 with a straight set win over Gael Monfils. Speaking ahead of the match, Murray said that he has been looking forward to a 37th career meeting with Djokovic. He said “I thought about it a little bit at the beginning of the third set. I didn't know if I was going to get the chance to play matches like that again. In theory I shouldn't have a chance in the match, but I've put myself in a great position. I worked extremely hard in the last five or six weeks to get myself here and it's a fantastic opportunity to play against him again on a huge court in a big tournament."

Murray’s first match on clay in two years was against Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Open’s first round and the Scot won the game in straight sets. In the match against Shapovalov, Murray broke his serve twice before taking the opening set in 36 minutes. Currently ranked third, Murray applied more pressure on Shapovalov’s serve in the fifth game of the second set but ended up squandering two break points for the first time in the match in the next game and trailed 5-2 before Shapovalov served out to level at one set all after one hour and 25 minutes of play.

The deciding set went with serve until the fifth game and Murray subsequently seized on his first break point to go ahead 4-2. Currently 78th in the ATP rankings, Murray held at 5-2 and went 40-0 before Shapovalov’s serve and eventually won the game on his third match point. The Scotsman received a wild card entry for the Madrid Open which led him to reverse his decision to skip the entire clay court season and rigorous four weeks of training on clay has led the Scotsman to play at his vintage best.

Also read: Raducanu defeats Kostyuk to progress into third round of Madrid Open