French Open 2024: Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :May 25, 2024 at 3:29 PM

Modified at :May 25, 2024 at 3:30 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Murray and Wawrinka are drawn to play in the first round in Murray’s farewell year.

Fans at French Open 2024 will be witness to a first-round clash between a pair of three-time major champions when Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka walk onto the court on Sunday.

Murray has turned up to play on Roland Garros only once since 2017. That was in 2020 when he lost to Wawrinka in straight sets. The Scotsman was a finalist in Roland Garros in 2017, besides reaching the semifinals four times (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017).

In 2024, Murray won his first match of the season against Alexandre Muller in February, which was his first win at a major tournament. The last time the Scot won at an event of great magnitude was at the US Open first round in August 2023.

Fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka has also had a subpar year, with early exits at most events. The edge Wawrinka has over Murray is that he has converted one of his two final appearances into a title win. That win came in 2015 against current World No. #1 Novak Djokovic in four sets.

Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray match details

Date: May 26 (Sunday)

Time: 3:30 PM IST (Tentative)

Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris

Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray preview

Veteran Scot Andy Murray is battling an injury-riddled body as he makes a Roland Garros appearance one last time before leaving the tour. There are quite a few parallels between Murray and Wawrinka – both taking home three trophies each in an era dominated by the Big Three.

Murray is one of six British hopefuls contesting the French Open title, including the men’s and women’s singles draw.

Both players have been around for nearly two decades — Wawrinka is 39, and Murray is 37. They have endured a fair share of injuries in their careers. Murray’s near career-ending hip injury and Wawrinka’s series of foot-related injuries are among them.

Their scheduled clash on Sunday at the ongoing French Open 2024 is the 23rd match in the long-running rivalry between the familiar foes.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 22

Andy Murray – 13

Stan Wawrinka – 9

Of the 22 head-to-head matches between the duo, Murray has an advantage of four wins over his Swiss rival. Wawrinka won their first-ever meeting back in 2005 in their round-robin Davis Cup clash. Murray took the win in their most recent meeting in 2022 in the round of 64 in Cincinnati.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Stan Wawrinka vs Andy Murray, French Open 2024, first round match in India?

The clash between two former Roland Garros finalists will stream live on the Sony Network bouquet of high-definition channels, and broadcast duties will be shared by the network’s streaming service, SonyLiv. More details here.

Prediction

Wawrinka, who picked up the 2015 Roland Garros trophy, has two wins from three matches on the red clay courts of Paris against Murray. Among the wins is a marathon five-setter in the 2017 semifinals, taking four hours and 34 minutes to complete.

The Swiss also overcame the former ATP No. #1 in the first round of the French Open four years ago. While Murray looks to be the favourite to win their clash on paper, Wawrinka has the edge where it counts – all thanks to turning in better performances relative to Murray’s record in Roland Garros.

Wawrinka has a 2-1 record against Murray in Paris and 5-1 on clay. Both players have taken around 74% of service points won this season while holding steady with 35% of return points won. Murray has carved out 77 break-point opportunities to 68 by Wawrinka.

However, these numbers have little meaning to both players as they head into Paris low on form and fitness. Who can carry the day will depend on the player with more gas in the tank to go that extra mile when their bodies refuse to move another inch.

Prediction: Stan Wawrinka to win in four sets.

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