Wawrinka outwits fellow veteran Murray to move into second round at French Open
Stan Wawrinka outclassed Andy Murray on Sunday night to reach the second round at the French Open.
The 2015 champion won 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 after two hours and 19 minutes on centre court in the first of the night matches at the 2024 championships.
The 39-year-old Swiss, who is the oldest man in the draw, broke Murray in the opening game of the match and wrapped up the first set in 53 minutes.
It was a similar pattern in the second set as Wawrinka's famed singled-handed backhand punched through Murray's equally celebrated defensive strategies.
The 37-year-old Briton was unable to recover the deficit and Wawrinka took the second set with his second ace of the encounter to seize control of the match after one hour and 41 minutes.
Pattern
Murray was robbed again of his service early in the third.
And for all his fearsome fighting qualities, it was effectively game over once he conceded his service for a second time and Wawrinka held for a 4-0 lead.
An air of respectability entered as Murray – the beaten finalist in 2016 – got on the board. But it was ultimately cosmetics.
Wawrinka's 13th backhand winner brought up two match points and fittingly a 14th sizzler – this one a rocket down the line – gave him the match after two hours and 19 minutes.
Murray embraced his conqueror and exchanged words at the net at the end of their 23rd meeting stretching back 19 years.
"I really liked watching Andy play," Wawrinka told the on-court interviewer Alex Corretja. "We spoke about trying to make the best of what is left."
Read more on RFI English
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