Andy Murray has won the virtual Madrid Open after defeating David Goffin 7-6, winning by a tiebreaker. The event which held online saw the players play from the comfort of their homes.
The game was hosted on the Playstation platform and took place in a computer-generated version of the Manolo Santana stadium.
The Real Madrid Open was scheduled to hold between the 1st and 10th of May, but the pandemic has put a halt to all professional tennis events. Spain, which is the host country of the event, is one of the worst-hit countries as regards the pandemic and strict lockdown measures had to be enforced. But that did not mean that fans would not get to enjoy some gameplay.
Feliciano Lopez, director of the Madrid Open, hinted last month about the plans put in place for the event, which would provide almost the same experience as the real game. The event had some major stars in participation, including Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Bianca Andreescu, and Angelique Kerber. There were 16 players from the ATP and WTA, competing for the prestigious prize of £150,000.
Murray moved to the final round after his opponent Diego Schwartzman announced that Murray should proceed to the final round as he, Schwartzman, experienced technical difficulties that were preventing him from playing. Despite the break in connection from his side, he was still being awarded points, a situation which Murray tagged as “madness”.
It was Goffin who got to feel Murray’s power at the final round. Although Murray was behind by points, a tiebreak pushed him forward, eventually winning the tournament.
He had won the event twice in his career before the virtual win. On the female side, Kiki Bertens established herself as the true queen of the Madrid Open after winning it for the second year in a row.
Part of the proceeds, according to Murray, would be donated to the NHS, while the other half would be given to players who are financially affected as a result of the pandemic.
Written by: Leon Osamor
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