Andy Murray in 'heartbreaking' scenes amid shock drama at Madrid Open

Andy Murray has been left shattered after losing his first-ever opening match at the Madrid Open after a horror moment in the second-set tiebreak against qualifier Andrea Vavassori. Murray had never lost his opening match at the Madrid Open and the two-time champion entered the clash as strong favourite against the World No.164.

And the Scottish champion immediately found himself on the back foot as the Italian raced away with the set. Murray was frustrated with his level of tennis and remonstrated at the change of ends.

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Murray's never-say-die attitude came to the fore in the second set as he pushed the Italian all the way to a tiebreak. However, disaster struck in the most pivotal point of the match.

Murray constructed a brilliant point and was rewarded with a simple volley into an open court to set-up set point. But the Scot clipped the tape on the net and watched on in horror as the ball bounced back towards him.

"Well we have seen some missed today, but that is arguably the biggest of them all. An absolute gimme. No one can believe what they have just seen," the commentator said in disbelief. "Oh my goodness," another commentator added.

Murray went on to lose the next point in the tiebreak and to lose the match 6-2, 7-6. While Murray was devastated as he smashed his racquet on his bag, his opponent was full of compliments for the former champion.

"It's a dream come true to play in a tournament like this against a true champion like him. I have followed him throughout my tennis career. He is a hero for everyone on tour," Vavassori said of his opponent.

"I played the best tennis of my life. Then the nerves came in. At the end, just joy." Fans were left absolutely gutted for Murray after the horror moment at the net to lose the match and mark a poor run of form for the 35-year-old.

Andy Murray struggles with form

Murray's loss at the Madrid Open marks the third straight defeat in the opening round at ATP Masters 1000 events. The three-time grand slam champion admitted he has struggled at the beginning of the clay court season.

"Certainly the beginning of the clay season hasn't been that easy for me, but normally after a few weeks, I start to feel better and play better," Murray said in his post-match press conference. "Obviously last year, I'm not saying I came here and played unbelievable tennis straightaway, but I was playing well enough to win matches... against good players, top players."

The champion will have an opportunity to play at the Italian Open in Rome, before hinting at his first Roland Garros appearance since 2020. However, the Scot was adamant that he still has one more opportunity to push for a grand slam at his favourite event.

"I would like to play, just purely because I don't know if I'll get another opportunity to play again. Whilst I feel fit and healthy, I would like to give it a go," he said of his future.

"But I also have ambitions of competing for Wimbledon titles and that sort of stuff, and I know that sitting here today that probably doesn't sound realistic, but I do believe that that's a possibility. I obviously want to do the right thing there."

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