French Open 2020: Wawrinka thrashes Murray as big match falls flat

What was billed as an opening-day basic between two outdated warriors changed into a humid squib as Stan Wawrinka crushed Andy Murray 6-1 6-Three 6-2 on the French Open on Sunday. The final time they met on Court Philippe Chatrier, within the 2017 semi-final, Wawrinka got here by means of a five-set slugfest however this time it proved a painfully one-sided affair as Murray suffered his equal worst Grand Slam beating.

When the opening three video games on a near-empty showcourt took round 20 minutes, one other battle royal seemed attainable between the gamers who each personal three Grand Slam titles. But as 16th seed Wawrinka, champion in Paris in 2015, raised his sport, Murray, who wore black leggings on a cold night, capitulated alarmingly together with his trademark battling qualities conspicuous by their absence.

“I need to have a long hard think about it. It’s not the sort of match I would just brush aside and not think about it,” Murray, whose earlier worst loss was a 6-Three 6-2 6-1 hammering by the hands of Rafa Nadal on the 2014 French Open, informed reporters. “I need to understand why the performance was like that.”

Murray’s defeat by Wawrinka in 2017 after an epic four-and-a-half hour tussle proved virtually the ultimate straw for a crumbling hip that has since required two surgical procedures, the second of which has left him with a metallic joint. But the 33-year-old returned to singles motion final 12 months and truly beat Wawrinka to win the Antwerp title in October – a consequence that raised hopes he may once more problem on the prime.

He was soundly overwhelmed by younger Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime within the second spherical of the U.S. Open although and was hit off court docket by 35-year-old Wawrinka who has additionally been pressured to return again from knee surgical procedure. Murray landed solely 36 % of his first serves which was by no means going to finish nicely in opposition to a participant with Wawrinka’s bullish groundstrokes.

“That’s just not good enough, really, against anyone, and especially someone as good as Stan,” he stated.

The usually vocal Scot barely uttered a phrase throughout the match and even his normally elegant contact was off with one dropshot late within the second set failing to succeed in the online. While Murray was a shadow of his former self, Wawrinka, who performs 61st-ranked Dominik Koepfer of Germany subsequent, fired a warning that he could possibly be a menace.

It was solely his second Tour-level match because the resumption of tennis from the coronavirus shutdown, however he served magnificently and clubbed 42 winners to Murray’s 10. With the situations prone to stay heavy, Wawrinka shall be assured of an prolonged run.

“I’ve had some amazing matches with Andy. I was expecting a tough match. But I was really focused. Even if the scoreboard is one-sided like today, you never know what can happen. It’s great to be back, great to feel that way, and looking forward for the next match.”