Wawrinka downs Murray in Paris reunion

But as far as sequels go, the 2024 instalment was closest to the story told four years ago, though with the distinction of being the second-oldest men’s singles match at Roland-Garros since 2000. 

Murray was competing at Roland-Garros for just the second time in the last seven years, while Wawrinka overcame not just the challenge posed by the Scot to advance to the second round.

Story of the match

A break of serve in the first game, and a subsequent hold, gave Wawrinka enough of a cushion to take the first set (though he expertly navigated a 15-40 deficit to hold in the fourth game). More of the same followed in the second set, as the three-time major-winner broke at 1-1, and looked more than solid in his service games.

With Wawrinka ahead 6-4, 5-3, the tenor of the match changed, as eagle eyes would’ve noticed him stretching his right leg at the back of the court. Two games later, he dug in, though—and held from 0-30 to secure a two-sets-to-love lead.

But as set three began, after Wawrinka left the court for a medical timeout, it was Murray’s turn to struggle physically with his lower body. His first-serve speed slowed, and he more than once pulled up with a grimace at the close of the pair's baseline rallies. All that added up to a quick start for Wawrinka in the decider, as he won the first four games and 16 of the first 21 points.

The end, though, saw the pair soak it all in. The two champions met for a long embrace at the net, as the Chatrier crowd saluted them with a standing ovation. 

Key stats

By the time the two hour, 19-minute match concluded, the stats were firmly in favour of the Swiss. Wawrinka hit more winners (35 to 25), won more points behind his first serve (79% to 71%), and successfully finished more points at the net (22/30 to 11/17). Those two break points he turned aside early in the first set were the only ones he faced for the match, and he converted four of the 10 he created on Murray’s serve.

But the biggest number to take away from the match? 51—the number of main-draw matches that Murray has played at Roland-Garros in his career. With Murray hinting at retirement earlier this year by saying that he doesn’t expect to play for long past this summer, might the match have marked the 2016 finalist’s official farewell to singles on the terre battue? Only time will tell. He is entered in the men's doubles draw with compatriot Dan Evans as a wild card.

Meanwhile, Wawrinka entered Sunday’s affair having won just two tour-level matches in 2024. But the Swiss, now having recorded at least one win in 15 of his 19 main-draw trips to Roland-Garros, will be the next opponent for Murray's fellow Brit, No. 32 seed Cameron Norrie, or Pavel Kotov, who play on Monday.

Wawrinka’s take

On the prolonged exchange with Murray at the net: “My first words to him were respect to a great champion. As a tennis fan, I enjoyed watching Andy [play] tennis against the best players of all-time. We had battles with those players for nearly 20 years. We are not all that young anymore, and we’re trying to make the best of what we have left.”

On continuing on, even at age 39: “As years go by, you have to be disciplined, you have to make sacrifices, but the reason why we do that is to be here in front of the public, with the great support that we get, because it’s creating a lot of emotions for everyone. 

“I get a lot of emotions out of this as well, and it also gives me the courage to continue. I’m the oldest in the draw, but I’m still very young in my head. I just want to carry on playing: It’s as simple as that.”