‘I did not expect this so soon’ – Andy Murray reacts to reaching European Open final

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Andy Murray looking strong at Shanghai Masters

Andy Murray says that he did not expect to be playing finals again so soon after he gave himself a shot at winning the European Open on Sunday.

The former world number one came from a set down to beat Ugo Humbert in the semi-final in Antwerp, setting up a mouthwatering final against Stan Wawrinka.

It marks another milestone on Murray’s remarkable return from career-saving hip surgery, and one that he says he didn’t think he’d reach so soon.

“It’s been a big surprise to me. I’m happy to be into the final,” he said.

“It’s been a long road to get back to this point. I certainly didn’t expect it to come so soon since I started playing again.

“I did very well to turn that match around today. It was tough. He was playing huge from the back of the court… It was tricky today.

“It was obviously big for me to get that [6-5] game in the second set, but the game that won me the match was the first game of the third set.

‘When I was 0/40 down, I think I played a couple of good points. It was a huge game to get out of. I felt like the momentum was with me… Once I won that game, I felt like that was what set me on my way.”

Wawrinka mirrors Murray in many ways as being a three-time Grand Slam champion who has suffered injury woes of late.

He will, though, hold no surprises for Murray, who knows he is in for a very tough match on Sunday.

“Stan’s a brilliant player,” he admitted. “We’ve played against each other in some big matches in the past in big tournaments.

“He’s had his injury troubles as well the last couple of years and done great to get back to the top of the game.”

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