BORDEAUX, France — Far from the Grand Slam phases on which each have starred, Stan Wawrinka beat Andy Murray 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday in what’s believed to be the primary ATP Challenger Tour matchup between two previous main champions in additional than 40 years.
Each man has received three Grand Slam titles – Wawrinka on the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open and 2016 U.S. Open; Murray on the 2012 U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. Each has wanted a number of operations in more moderen instances – Wawrinka to his left knee and left foot; Murray to his hip, together with the insertion of a steel implant. Each is older than 35: Wawrinka is 38; Murray turned 36 on Monday.
Wawrinka as soon as was ranked as excessive as No. 3 and is at the moment 84th. Murray as soon as went all the best way up at No. 1 and is now forty second.
Their 22 previous profession conferences on the ATP’s prime stage (Murray leads, 13-9) embrace seven head-to-head showdowns at majors (Wawrinka leads 4-3). That featured matches within the semifinals of the French Open in 2016 (received by Murray) and 2017 (received by Wawrinka).
This newest encounter was additionally on crimson clay, however within the second spherical at a membership in Bordeaux, close to the coast and about 350 miles (560 kilometers) southwest of Roland Garros – with a lot smaller stakes and a a lot smaller viewers.
Still, the duo did stroll out onto the courtroom to a standing ovation. Wawrinka, carrying a lilac polo shirt and black shorts, went up an early break at 3-1, then held 5 set factors whereas forward 5-2 as Murray served. Murray, in a pale orange T-shirt and black shorts, fended off these possibilities and held for 5-3 – however wouldn’t declare one other sport.
By the top, Wawrinka had saved the one break level he confronted, whereas profitable 4 of Murray’s seven service video games.
Wawrinka and Murray each went to Bordeaux after early losses on the Masters 1000 event in Rome final week. The French Open begins in Paris on May 28.
The ATP stated this was considered the primary assembly on the ATP Challenger Tour between two males who had received Grand Slam titles since Ilie Nastase beat Jan Kodes in San Remo, Italy, in 1981.
Challengers are a stage beneath the principle ATP tour, largely stuffed with gamers attempting to maneuver up. Sometimes, gamers hoping to work their manner again from poor outcomes or break day due to accidents will flip to Challengers to hunt rankings factors and match motion.
Murray, for instance, went to the Challenger occasion in Aix-en-Provence and received his first title at that stage since 2005 by beating Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul within the last on May 7.
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