Google News Denis Shapovalov: I dreamed of playing Andy Murray in big spotlight
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World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov can't wait to meet Andy Murray on the Centre Court at Wimbledon. Shapovalov made the third round following a Pablo Andujar walkover and he is set to face Murray for the first time in his career.
“I think it’s a great moment for me,” Shapovalov assured, per Tennis Majors. “It’s going to be my first time on Centre Court at Wimbledon, so it’s definitely super exciting for me and my team and my career — definitely a match I grew up wanting to play against Andy in the spotlight like this”.
Shapovalov watched Murray's last match
On Wednesday, Murray edged out Oscar Otte in five sets to set up a Murray clash. “I’ve watched a little bit; watched his match yesterday,” Shapovalov said of his upcoming opponent.
“And, honestly, just as a tennis fan it was fun to watch…as a fan of Andy’s to see him back and moving so well, especially those last two sets, how he turned it around…. It felt like he was the player that he was a couple years back.
It was really exciting to see. Watching the last couple of sets yesterday, it looked like the old Andy out there. It brought a lot of memories back to me, when he was dominant and playing so well. Even the commentators were saying that’s the old Andy right there, and for sure it was….
To see him moving the way he’s moving now, especially on the slick grass, it’s great to see — obviously not as an opponent, but as a fan of the sport”. Murray was made to work by German Otte on Wednesday.
"I enjoyed the end. The middle part not so much. What an atmosphere to play in at the end. The whole crowd was amazing but there were a few guys in there getting me fired up. I needed everyone's help tonight," Murray said, per George Bellshaw.
"I'm obviously tired and I fell over a couple of times. Pretty slick courts but considering everything I feel alright. Hip feels good. I get a rest day tomorrow and hopefully come out on Friday and play in another atmosphere like this and perform well." After the match, Murray had some encouraging words for Otte.
"If I keep on playing like this... keep on working like this then the results will come. I said thanks and it was great to play him. I told him he's my icon and it was great to play against him," Otte said of Murray's message at the end.