Former Roland Garros finalist Andy Murray played his last match at the clay Major on Sunday night. Andy faced his old rival Stan Wawrinka in the first round and suffered a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 loss in two hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Thus, Murray played his third consecutive Roland Garros encounter against Wawrinka, losing them and wrapping up his Parisian journey with a 39-12 score, playing his best tennis between 2014 and 2017. Andy and Stan are the fifth 37-year-old rivals in a Major match in the Open era, and the older Swiss had the upper hand. Wawrinka clinched the opening two sets with a single break in each and broke Murray’s resistance early in set number three to book a place in the second round. Stan claimed 14 points more than Andy. The Briton stayed in touch in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes, and the Swiss earned his triumph in the more advanced ones.
Stan Wawrinka, Roland Garros 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Wawrinka delivered more efficient numbers behind the first and second serve. He turned 38% of the points into four breaks from ten opportunities. On the other hand, the older player faced only two break chances, denying them and producing 12 comfortable holds in a row to keep the pressure on Murray. Stan landed 35 winners and 30 unforced errors, drawing 34 mistakes from Andy and emerging at the top in style. Wawrinka made a reliable start, earning three break chances in the first game of the encounter and seizing the last with a backhand attack and Murray’s forehand mistake. Stan cemented the advantage with a volley winner at the net in the second game, attacking and mounting the pressure on the other side. Andy served better in the third game, landing an ace down the T line and getting his name to the scoreboard.
Andy Murray, Roland Garros 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Stan Wawrinka defeated Andy Murray in straight sets in Paris.
The Briton created two break chances in the next one after the Swiss’ careless forehand, earning his only opportunities on the return in the match! Wawrinka stayed composed and denied them, taking four straight points and holding for a 3-1 lead. Murray delivered another fine hold in the fifth game, closing it with a powerful serve and remaining within one break deficit. Stan endured a couple of deuces on serve at 3-2 and landed two winners for a hold after 31 minutes. Andy netted a forehand in the sixth game, offering his opponent three break chances. Murray saved them with two powerful forehands and a service winner, getting out of jail and forcing Wawrinka’s mistake to bring the game home. The 2015 Roland Garros champion secured the eighth game with a serve & volley combo, forcing Andy to serve to stay in the set at 3-5. The Briton held at love in the ninth game, hoping for more return chances in the next one.
Stan Wawrinka, Roland Garros 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
He reached a deuce after an entertaining point before the Swiss fired a service winner for a set point and seized it with a forced mistake for 6-4 after 53 minutes. With a boost by his side, Stan produced five comfortable holds in the second set and pressured Andy to follow that pace. Murray grabbed the first game with a volley winner at the net, and Wawrinka locked the result at 1-1 with a forced mistake in the next one. Andy lost his focus in the third game, spraying a volley error and offering Stan two break points. The Swiss caused the Briton’s mistake on the first, securing a break and moving 2-1 in front. The 39-year-old clinched the fourth game with a service winner, settling into a fine rhythm. Andy held at love in game five with a drop shot winner before Stan painted a backhand down the line winner a few minutes later for 4-2. Murray delivered another game with a drop shot winner and embraced another on the return in game seven.
Andy Murray, Roland Garros 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Still, Wawrinka held with a service winner, moving 5-3 in front and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Briton claimed the ninth game with a touchy backhand winner, extending the battle before the Swiss served for the set at 5-4. Stan climbed back from 0-30 and created a set point after Andy’s loose forehand. Wawrinka seized it with an ace down the T line, opening a 6-4, 6-4 advantage after an hour and 41 minutes. Stan took a medical timeout ahead of the third set and continued without issues. The former champion generated a break point in the first game with a backhand winner and painted another for an early advantage, moving closer to the finish line.
Wawrinka cemented the lead with a serve & volley combo in the second game and made another push on the return in the next one. Andy netted a routine forehand, suffering another break in game three and falling 3-0 behind. Stan landed an ace in the fourth game, holding at love and marching toward the finish line. Murray avoided a bagel with a fine hold in game five and extended the battle with a forehand winner at 1-5. Wawrinka served for the win in game eight and painted a backhand down the line winner for two match points. The Swiss sealed the deal with another, moving over the top in style and enjoying a friendly conversation with the Briton at the net.
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