Andy Murray‘s potentially final French Open campaign gets underway this evening with a rematch against Stan Wawrinka.
The Scot, who has hinted that he may retire in the summer, is back at Roland Garros for the first time since 2020 and looks to say farewell to a tournament where he was a defeated finalist in 2015.
He faces bad memories in facing Wawrinka who defeated him in the opening round here four years ago while also inflicting painful defeats on Murray in the semi-finals of the 2016 and 2017 editions.
Murray says it will be a “pleasure” to face Wawrinka, a 39-year-old former French Open champion and three-time grand slam winner.
He said: “It’s incredible that he’s still competing at the highest level at 39 years old and it’s great we get the opportunity to play each other again. It’s a good match for both of us. A pleasure to get to play against him in another slam.”
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Andy Murray 4-6 1-2 Stan Wawrinka*
Break! Not what Murray needed. A backhand rally ends with Murray sending one wide of the cross court side line which gifts a shoddy game to his opponent.
An early break in the second set means Wawrinka is back in control.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:41
*Andy Murray 4-6 1-1 Stan Wawrinka
The crowd are getting into this. Murray is chipping away at the Wawrinka serve but just as it looks as though Murray might be setting up a break the Swiss lands a first ace of the match to move ahead.
A slice from Wawrinka spins the ball away from Murray and he scuffs the next shot out wide. Wawrinka holds to 30.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:36
Andy Murray 4-6 1-0 Stan Wawrinka*
“Let’s go, come on!” says Murray as Wawrinka drills a backhand over the back of court. He yells in excitement again as Wawrinka powers a forehand into the net.
Murray needs one point to hold serve and sends it to the backhand before sprinting to the net and winning the game with two well placed volleys.
Good start to the second set.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:32
*Andy Murray 4-6 0-0 Stan Wawrinka
Is there a way for Andy Murray to orchestrate a win or does he need Stan Wawrinka to drop his level? That’s what the commentators are asking. Murray will believe it’s the former and he just needs to figure it out.
Murray jogs to the net but decides not to go for a volley and judges the flight of the ball perfectly as Wawrinka’s return lands wide. He follows that up with a double fault, the first of the game, and Wawrinka nudges back into the lead.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:30
*Andy Murray 4-6 0-0 Stan Wawrinka
The very first game of the match caused Andy Murray to lose that first set. He was broken before finding his rhythm and Stan Wawrinka held his nerve to get over the line.
What does the second set have in store?
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:27
Andy Murray 4-6 Stan Wawrinka
A timely powerful serve gives Wawrinka set point number three and an equally solid serve in the next rally lands him the set. Murray twice put looping returns over the net but the second one goes wide.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:26
Andy Murray 4-5 Stan Wawrinka*
Wawrinka will now serve to secure the opening set. The two players trade blows and points to start off the game with Murray then advancing into the court and looks to take on a forehand which he drills into the net.
Wawrinka then hooks a forehand to the back corner, sprints up to the net and chips home the volley to set up two set points.
He doesn’t take either of them! Two errors and a typical stubborn Murray mean this game goes to deuce.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:24
Andy Murray 4-5 Stan Wawrinka*
The set may have gone for Murray but he’ll take heart from his service games. He’s been in control of them and has held a few very quickly withoutn dropping many points.
I don’t think this will be a match of many breaks, can Murray get one and extend this set?
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:19
*Andy Murray 3-5 Stan Wawrinka
That’s just not on. Wawrinka nonchalantly dispatches a backhand down the line to give Murray no chance of making the return. He then slices a spinning shot to Murray’s backhand which drops short of the net.
From 0-15 down, Wawrinka takes the next three points.
Make that four. A perfect serve and volley takes Wawrinka within a game of the opening set.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:15
Andy Murray 3-4 Stan Wawrinka*
Superb from Murray! From 40-0 down he manages to save three break points and hold serve on the second deuce attempt. The main reason comes from landing that first serve.
It puts him in control of the rally and from there the Scot can force an error to win the point. This set is still alive.
Mike Jones26 May 2024 20:12