Wawrinka, at 39, is just the third man of at least that age to win a match at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament since 1980
Andy Murray (right) congratulates Stan Wawrinka in Paris. Pic/AFP
After Stan Wawrinka ended Andy Murray’s stay at the French Open yet again— and this time, it was perhaps Murray’s last singles appearance at Roland Garros—the two long-time opponents, both in their late 30s, met at the net for a handshake, an embrace and a lengthy chat.
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Wawrinka, whose trademark one-handed backhand helped him put together a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory in the first-round contest Sunday night, then joined fans in applauding for Murray as he headed toward the locker room. “It was emotional, for sure. We’re getting closer to the end,” said Wawrinka, who has won 10 of their 23 meetings since the first in 2005. “We have a lot of respect for each other.”
Wawrinka, at 39, is just the third man of at least that age to win a match at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament since 1980. Murray just turned 37, and this contest had the second-oldest combined age for two men in Paris since 2000. “Obviously disappointed. He gave me very few opportunities,” said Murray, who was broken early in each set while going 0 for 2 on his break chances. “Physically, tennis is not easy for me nowadays.” Murray recently returned after tearing ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March and is 1-3 since coming back.
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