french open
Wawrinka odds on to win round one battle of the masters
Maybe they should create a special ‘masters’ category for this year’s Roland Garros event: Murray v Wawrinka.
Murray at 37 is two years younger than his Swiss opponent in round one of the 2024 edition of the French Opening Paris – and there pair first faced each other way back … yes, way back in 2005.
The Scot leads the head to head 13-9 but Wawrinka has the edge on clay, 5-1.
Who can’t forget the classic 2017 semi-final when Wawrinka came from 2-1 down to win?
It was revenge of a set for Murray’s semi-final win the year before.
Semi-finals might be a bit too far for this pair now, as they meet again on opening day in what most writers are saying will be the final encounter.
Murray is now 75th in the ATP rankings and Wawrinka? He’s a bit further down the list at 97.
Age is catching up with both players, they entered a challenger series event in Bordeaux in an attempt to be ready for Paris – both went out in the second round.
Who will win? Probably Wawrinka. Why?
He’s a better clay player – and a former French Open champion.
Andy Murray has revealed he is planning a minor medical procedure on some nagging back pain in hopes of being fighting fit for what is expected to be his final career grass-court campaign.
The 37-year-old spelled out his plans to British media at the French Open after his first-round loss to Stan Wawrinka.
The Scot ranked 75th is set to rest after the touch-up and then head to Stuttgart for his first pre-Wimbledon event, with the German tournament starting on June 10.
Murray reached the final at the Weissenhof club two years ago, finishing runner-up to Matteo Berrettini after beating NIck Kyrgios in the semis.
“My back has been a problem the last few weeks for practice and stuff. It has not been great,” the former No. 1 said.
“In my prime, clay always caused issues with my back. I didn’t this year (but) it has not been that comfortable.
“I’m hoping I will have a procedure, have a few days’ rest and then should be fine.”
Murray pulled the plug on next week’s Challenger in the far-flung London suburbs, an event beloved by early losers in Paris as they first step onto the grass.
Murray has given strong indications in recent months that he will wrap up his career sometime this year.
Main photo:- Andy Murray won Wimbledon in 2016 – by Karl Winter International Sports Fotos Ltd
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