ATP
Stan sweeps Murray as old foes face off in Paris
Stan Wawrinka re-lived his glory days on the Paris clay as he beat fellow veteran Andy Murray 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the French Open.
The 39-year-old Swiss won the title here in 2015 and lost the final two years later to Rafael Nadal.
“I think I played my best match of the year,” Wawrinka said. “I was feeling good, moving well and playing aggressive.
“I liked the conditions, and I’m super happy with the performance and the level. It’s really positive for me.”
Murray will head back to his native grass after the thrashing in just over two and a quarter hours, with the Swiss sending down 35 winners and breaking the Scot four times.
Wawrinka took out insurance policies at the start of each set with an early break,which put former No. 1 Murray on the back foot.
The pair of three-time Grand Slam winners were facing off for the 23nd time in a career-long rivalry, including three meetings at Roland Garros; Murray still leads 13-10.
The tennis friends chatted away for nearly a minute at the net after the Swiss claimed victory.
“It was emotional, for sure. We’re getting closer to the end, and we played so many times over the last 20 years,” wawrinka said.
“”it was amazing to be on the Chatrier night session, something I’ll never have a chance to do (again).
“Andy’s an amazing player, such a big fighter. We have a lot of respect for each other.
“It’s always special anyway to play in France for me at the French Open. I was super happy to be in front of the fans.”
Murray was playing here for the first time since 2020, when he also lost to his rival in the first round.
The 37-year-old Scot was back at the venue after injuring an ankle two months ago and spending most of his days rehabbing.
He will now point to the grass and is headlining at the Stuttgart pre-Wimbledon event from June 10.
The match was the “oldest” at Roland Garros this century after the 2019 first-round clash between 40-year-old Ivo Karlovic and 37-year-old Feliciano Lopez.