Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray Preview & Prediction | 2024 French Open | First Round
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Old foes Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka face off for what is likely the final time as both veterans look ready to retire later this year.
START DATE/TIME: Sunday 26th May 2024, UK – not before 19:15 / US EST – not before 14:15 / US PST – not before 11:15
VENUE: Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, France
SURFACE: Outdoor clay
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Eurosport / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis Channel
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis Channel
TICKETS: Visit this link for the latest Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray ticket information
STAN WAWRINKA VS ANDY MURRAY PREDICTION
There are so many parallels to draw between the careers of former world number one Andy Murray and number three Stan Wawrinka, both of whom did exceptionally well to win three Grand Slams during the ‘Big Three’ era.
Both have endured more than their fair share of debilitating injuries in the latter thirds of their careers, with Murray’s near career-ending hip injury exacerbated heavily in their epic semi-final here at Roland-Garros back in 2017, and it seems that their bodies will get the better of them in 2024.
Murray beat Wawrinka to lift the European Open trophy in 2019, his only of 46 ATP titles claimed after his ground-breaking hip resurfacing surgery, and the Brit leads 13-9 in their storied head-to-head to look the slight favourite on paper. Clay, however, has always been Wawrinka’s most effective surface and he will feel confident of beating Murray for the third time in a row at Roland-Garros after dismissing the Brit in straight sets at this stage of the tournament in 2020.
Murray has, in fact, now been drawn to meet Wawrinka in each of his last three campaigns here in Paris and he trails the Swiss 5-1 on clay although he did oust Wawrinka, the defending champion, in four sets in 2016.
All this is at once relevant and consequential, however, as both players bring next to-no form or fitness into this last hurrah. 37-year-old Murray was starting to look in control of his game at the Miami Masters before turning his ankle in the third round and he has looked off the pace since his return last week at the Bordeaux Challenger.
39-year-old Wawrinka brings a poor 2-7 record into what is all-but certainly his final appearance at Roland-Garros but recent struggles at Challenger events should not soften expectations that he, like fellow veteran Rafael Nadal, will leave everything out on this court.
Murray will have his sights set on a homecoming retirement at Wimbledon next month, so back Wawrinka to win this day as the man likelier to give his all for one more win on this hallowed clay.
STAN WAWRINKA VS ANDY MURRAY TIP: STAN WAWRINKA TO WIN
