French Open R1 - Andy v. Stanislas Wawrinka - Sunday 27th September 4pm BST

[Hawkeye]

Andy's first match at the French Open since 2017 is a match against the 16th seed Stan Wawrinka.

Andy leads the H2H (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-stan-wawrinka/MC10/W367) 12-8, but Stan leads 4-1 on the devil dirt.

[cazza99]

Not long to go.

The match before is in the final set at 2-0.

[david1610]

Not long to go.

The match before is in the final set at 2-0.

Garcia broke back against Kontaveit who was 4-3 with a break and has held to go 5-4 up in the third. Perhaps not the time to point out that the French Open is the only Grand Slam not to have some form of tie-break in the fifth! Let's hope Garcia can get the next game (unless an absolute favourite is playing, my interest in matches before Andy is always hoping to avoid a long delay!).
Worry not... Garcia wins6-4 in fifth.
Andy and Stan to follow! :)

[Jane]

Players warming up. Andy wearing black tights :) or leggings;)

[lovetennis]

Andy rockin' the leggings ;)

[Jan]

Let's go Andy!!! :knight::knight::knight:

[david1610]

Looking at the umpire's hair moving around, looks windy. Stadium open. But if it starts to rain at least they can close it.
Danni V. Stan's new coach.

C'mon Andy!

[cazza99]

Marck Petchey commentating on ITV4. :)

[lovetennis]

Ridiculous time violation at the start

[Sallydaisy]

Jeu Murray. 1-0

[HoopGirl]

Feeling really excited/ nervy about this one!

[Sallydaisy]

Stan debreak.
Stan 3-1, Andy to serve.

[JAMES4578]

Wawrinka with better start and 3-1, come on Andy!

[david1610]

Wawrinka with better start and 3-1, come on Andy!

Yep. Just hope Andy can get a few more first serves and use the first set to get the radar tuned in and whatever else. C'mon Andy!

[Sallydaisy]

Bear in mind that Stan played a couple of Challengers on Clay when the season restarted and he won the title in Prague. So, Challengers or not, he's got a tad more clay court practice under his belt than Muzz AND anyway it's always been a surface he's done better on. Leads Andy 4-1 on clay courts and let's not forget how much trouble Stan has given Rafa on clay.
He'll be loving these conditions - heavy clay, slow court and heavy balls.

I'm not disheartened ... but I reckon Andy needs to take the tights off.
:lol:

[Sallydaisy]

Stan takes the first set 6-1.

[cazza99]

Think Andy would look better wearing a kilt with those black leggings.

[JAMES4578]

Andy being outplayed at the moment but still possible to turn it around, hopefully can get going now!

[Sallydaisy]

On serve so far in the 2nd set.

[Sallydaisy]

Stan debreak for 4-2.

[Sallydaisy]

Stan takes the 2nd set 6-3.
Andy has to win 3 sets to win ...
;)

[JAMES4578]

Andy got a bit closer in 2nd but Stan looking pretty much in command, Murray needs a higher level to stay in contention.

[banskogirl]

Come on Andy! Make him run!

[Sallydaisy]

Stan opens the 3rd set with an immedate break of the Muzz serve, and holds for 2-0.

[JAMES4578]

Andy could not even take Advantage of 0-40 (after some wild errors) as Stan goes up 2-0 in 3rd- does not look like it will be his day and so long since he had matches on clay which is a disadvantage. Andy holds for 1-2 but little fire it seems.

[Hawkeye]

Sad to see, but the sooner he realises that singles aren’t viable the better. He has had a knee problem since he was born. This is almost certainly what caused the hip to go in the first place. It will have put additional stresses on all his other joints.

My left hip has been malformed since the day I was born. I am currently now reliant on crutches and need two new knees and the damaged hip now needs a replacement of a replacement. My other hip is dodgy as well. I don’t want that for him.

I don’t care how fit he is. You can’t defy basic mechanics.

I appreciate other people will disagree.

Doubles or coaching should be the way forward for him.It's not so much whether we agree or disagree, but that you insist on bringing this up every time Andy has a negative result or performance.

Please stop.

[Teresa]

It's not so much whether we agree or disagree, but that you insist on bringing this up every time Andy has a negative result or performance.

Please stop.

Fair enough. I won’t mention it again.

[Sallydaisy]

Stan serving at *2-1.

[JAMES4578]

Stan now serving for the match at 5-2, sadly looks being a pretty one sided affair this time.

[exislander]

He seems very flat today, not even getting down on himself and as Jo Durie says, no sign of the Murray roar.

[Sallydaisy]

Over and out for Andy at RollyG, Stan wins 6'1, 6'3, 6'2.
:sad:

Well done to Stanimal, conditions nigh on perfect for him today with his game style.

Not a good day for the Brits in the Mens Draw.

[HoopGirl]

Oh boy.
That was sad to see.
Andy does seem flat and doesn’t seem to have the shots today. Felt he just gave up at the end.

[JAMES4578]

Stan through 6-1,6-3,6-2. Tbh expected Wawrinka to win but not in this manner- was competitive in early stages but then became one way traffic. Disappointing Andy could not better form and was subdued, even if Wawrinka on forrm. Will await to see if there was any other issue but may not necessarily be the case. of course lack of clay court matches/conditions made it more difficult but still surprised he could not find a higher level.

[Speedy Hawk]

It shame Andy lost. :( It was expected since Stan better form, better ranked, seeded and clay player.

[lovetennis]

Andy just didn't show up really. Interested to see what he says in the presser. Not surprised at the result more than the manner of it

[RosieBear]

Of course days like this are tough, but perspective is always important. Stan is a beast at the best of times on clay, but given that he skipped US to target the French and as Sally said earlier these conditions could be tailored to him, today's result is hardly surprising. Andy would have known how daunting the task was and nigh on impossible given his lack of matches. He's a tough competitor, but impossible that he wouldn't have been disappointed with the draw given he's desperate for matches. It's a hard rut to get out of - he loses matches because he's rusty, then doesn't get the matches he needs to shake off the rustiness. Catch 22. But he's worked things out before and will again. Smaller tournaments will be key. I think we'll see a very different Andy in Germany. He's a very determined man!

[jackie55]

Of course days like this are tough, but perspective is always important. Stan is a beast at the best of times on clay, but given that he skipped US to target the French and as Sally said earlier these conditions could be tailored to him, today's result is hardly surprising. Andy would have known how daunting the task was and nigh on impossible given his lack of matches. He's a tough competitor, but impossible that he wouldn't have been disappointed with the draw given he's desperate for matches. It's a hard rut to get out of - he loses matches because he's rusty, then doesn't get the matches he needs to shake off the rustiness. Catch 22. But he's worked things out before and will again. Smaller tournaments will be key. I think we'll see a very different Andy in Germany. He's a very determined man!

I do wonder if he should perhaps do a few challenge tournament to get some match wins

[clancy]

Fair enough. I won’t mention it again.

I hear what you are saying Teresa; those of us who have had hip problems over many years as you have, and I have, know the score. He has given me so much pleasure over the years I want the very best for him in the coming years in whatever capacity he chooses. I know all on here would say the same. x

[RosieBear]

I do wonder if he should perhaps do a few challenge tournament to get some match wins

Personally think so. Good way to build wins and confidence.

[david1610]

Or even some 250s. We know how much it meant to him to win that 250 last year. Some of the 32/28-entry 250s, with reasonable luck, or a draw opening out, might also provide Andy with the chance to get match practice. From Stan's point of view, I am sure he will be delighted to get past Andy without having had to draw on a lot of reserves which he would have paid for later in the tournament.

[Hawkeye]

Andy has 2 250s coming up in the next few weeks.

[Alis]

Of course days like this are tough, but perspective is always important. Stan is a beast at the best of times on clay, but given that he skipped US to target the French and as Sally said earlier these conditions could be tailored to him, today's result is hardly surprising. Andy would have known how daunting the task was and nigh on impossible given his lack of matches. He's a tough competitor, but impossible that he wouldn't have been disappointed with the draw given he's desperate for matches. It's a hard rut to get out of - he loses matches because he's rusty, then doesn't get the matches he needs to shake off the rustiness. Catch 22. But he's worked things out before and will again. Smaller tournaments will be key. I think we'll see a very different Andy in Germany. He's a very determined man!

Thanks for your positivity Rosiebear, I needed that. I don't think I've ever seen Andy so flat.

[cazza99]

And it isn't just the conditions that are bad and slow, but the type of balls is different this year and they are slower. I guess they would not help Andy.

[RosieBear]

Thanks for your positivity Rosiebear, I needed that. I don't think I've ever seen Andy so flat.

:grouphug:

He was very subdued. Disappointment (at the draw) compounded by grim conditions is my guess. There's quite a dystopian feel to the event, more so than NY imo. I think it's the weather. Several factors really conspired against him for this event, but he's unlikely to be so unlucky next time. Onwards!

[jackie55]

Personally think so. Good way to build wins and confidence.

Me too:thumbup:

[clancy]

All of them must be missing the spectators. Andy used to feed off them, whether they were for him or against. This tournament is proving about as much fun as a wet weekend in Morecambe! How many layers did both players and spectators have on?

[HoopGirl]

On 5 Live they were saying that in the post match Andy didn’t blame the Conditions, he was annoyed at how he played.
He said he was trying to quell his chatter but that was why we all, thought he was flat.
I remember him doing this before - maybe Lendl or Mauresmo were coaching him and he just became too flat and passiv.
He’s someone who needs Some fire in his belly and a rant to get him going big time, I think.

[HoopGirl]

Mats Wilander has been saying some negative stuff about Andy taking a wild card from young players.

[patlowe]

Bit late here, but strangely I wasn't too upset at Andy's loss today. Maybe if the match had been much closer I might have been, who knows! I've just been ever so grateful he is on a tennis court at all. And there will be more of him to come. Encouraging to hear him say that he intends to keep going. It's such a shame that one of those 2 gladiators had to exit rd1 today, and a bigger shame it had to be Andy. But nonetheless I intend to enjoy the rest of the tournament, and I think there will be a few twists and turns before it's all over...it is 2020!

[Teresa]

Mats Wilander has been saying some negative stuff about Andy taking a wild card from young players.
I read that. I disagree. He has paid his dues to the game. He should have Wildcards as long as he wants them. He, alone with others has helped make these tournaments fortunes over the years.

[suttontennis]

I read that. I disagree. He has paid his dues to the game. He should have Wildcards as long as he wants them. He, alone with others has helped make these tournaments fortunes over the years.

Yes, great idea, load the bottom end of the draw with another local no hoper, just so they can make a bit of easy money. Exactly what the media have been complaining happens at Wimbledon for years. Tournament Directors know which players have been good to them in the past, turned up year after year, done media stuff etc. They get the wild cards

[Stell]

Andy did look flat and played like someone with his ranking. I hope him having to wait for the negative Covid-19 test didn't interfere with his preparation. It wasn't a great start to be given a time warning before he served the first ball of the match.

[harriet]

I watched the game, or most of it, I was so disappointed by Andy's lack of fight that I drifted away.
but thinking back, I wonder if Andy started off competitively, lost his serve in the 3rd game in first set, and realised then that even if he played like fury over 5 sets, like he did in their previous encounter in Paris, it would exhaust both of them, and that a first round match like that wipes out your chance to win the tournament.
I am certainly not saying that Andy threw it, but he got a chance to run around for a couple of hours and see how he pulled up the next day.
let's hope he plays a couple of 250s and wallops everyone.
Andy is a role model to anyone with a replacement hip.

[themass15]

Not the Andy we had hoped to see. Let's home the indoor season helps him remember what he did last year.

[Alis]

Mats Wilander has been saying some negative stuff about Andy taking a wild card from young players.

That's pretty typical of Mats Wilander, I would say ....... I don't think he's ever been a great Andy fan.

[clancy]

Wilander has said some pretty nasty things about a lot of players over the years, including Federer and Kim C, and particularly Andy. I think he had unfriendly rivalry with Lendl back in the day so perhaps it's Lendl's fault! I never liked him as a player nor a so called pundit. x