Andy Murray could have performed his last French Open singles match after shedding to Stan Wawrinka in a one-sided first-round assembly between the veteran pair.
Britain’s Murray, 37, has stated this 12 months is prone to be his final one on tour and prevented surgical procedure on an ankle damage with a purpose to return to Roland Garros.
However his lack of court docket time was evident in a 6-4 6-4 6-2 loss to the 39-year-old Swiss.
It was the previous world primary’s first look on the Paris clay since a first-round defeat in 2020, and solely the second since a brutal loss within the 2017 semi-finals – each additionally by the hands of Wawrinka.
“It was at all times going to be robust, robust match. Stan has, through the years, performed sensible tennis on that court docket,” Murray stated.
“I used to be anticipating him to play very properly. I feel he did that. He gave me only a few alternatives.
“I want I may have accomplished a little bit bit higher.”
Murray’s exit on day one in Paris got here after Jack Draper misplaced to Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong because the British marketing campaign obtained off to an inauspicious begin.
Draper, 22, is thirty fifth on the earth however was crushed 7-5 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 6-3 by 176th-ranked De Jong.
Murray and Draper have been the primary of six British gamers to step out on to the Roland Garros grime, with Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Harriet Dart opening their campaigns on Monday and Tuesday.
Murray’s French Open is just not over but as he has entered the boys’s doubles alongside Evans.
Murray seems undercooked towards sharp Wawrinka
When Murray performed Wawrinka in 2017, the pair have been working within the peaks of their careers.
However the bodily exertions of the match – and that event – exacerbated a hip damage which derailed Murray’s profession and later wanted surgical procedure to delay it.
With the ability to return to enjoying with a metallic cap in his hip joint was one thing no different singles participant had ever accomplished – however the obstacles have continued to seem in his manner.
The very fact he has even been in a position to return to Roland Garros once more this 12 months is exceptional.
When Murray ruptured ankle ligaments in a Miami Open match on 24 March, the three-time Grand Slam champion feared he wouldn’t have the ability to say farewell to the place the place he got here runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2016.
Murray did return however arrived with little expectation. Wawrinka had not gained back-to-back matches since final 12 months’s US Open, however he was a lot sharper than Murray and medical when his possibilities arrived.
The tone for Murray’s night was set when he misplaced serve within the first sport of the night-session match. The Scot was unable to take two break factors at 2-1 and got here underneath extra strain himself at 0-40 4-2 earlier than Wawrinka served out the opening set.
Murray misplaced serve once more early within the second and possibilities to interrupt again have been uncommon till Wawrinka fought again from 0-30 5-4 to increase his benefit.
The third set was much more one-sided, sealed with one other trademark backhand winner down the road from 2015 champion Wawrinka.
The pair shared a heat and lengthy embrace on the internet, the place Wawrinka stated he informed Murray he was a “nice champion”.
A poignant second which demonstrated their mutual respect was adopted by a standing ovation for Murray, who waved farewell on what could possibly be his last look on Chatrier.
“It was an awesome match to play, to be on centre court docket, and play towards Stan, who I’ve had nice battles with, and an awesome crowd,” Murray stated.
“However sitting right here I might have put in a greater efficiency, or had a better match, or obtained by way of than to lose within the first spherical.”
Pissed off Draper nonetheless has work to do
Draper is a high-quality expertise with ambitions of reaching the world’s high 10, however this defeat was one other instance of the work he nonetheless has to do.
The left-hander just lately introduced South African former world quantity 9 Wayne Ferreira into his teaching staff to assist obtain his purpose, saying earlier than he confronted De Jong that his sport – significantly his serve – is “in transition”.
Touchdown solely 50% of his first serves, and successful simply 51% of second-serve factors, have been indicative of that.
Double faults additionally got here at expensive moments, none extra so than the one at 30-40 within the seventh sport of the decider which helped De Jong seal victory.
“My serve has been an issue this 12 months. I am attempting to vary it to make it higher,” Draper stated.
“The arrogance is not there for the time being on my serve, and it is an issue I will need to work on. It is actually letting me down.”
Whereas Draper struggled, 23-year-old De Jong confirmed assurance after his three qualifying victories to achieve the primary draw.
Solely as soon as had the Briton performed a five-set match – when he got here by way of to beat Marcos Giron in robust circumstances at this 12 months’s Australian Open.
That felt like a landmark second in Draper’s profession, exhibiting he had constructed up the bodily and psychological resilience to beat adversity.
Nevertheless, Draper was unable to win one other Grand Slam decider as De Jong arrange a second-round assembly with Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz.
“[Last year] I could not handle close to to a few units, and now that is in all probability, I feel, the longest match I’ve performed,” Draper added.
“I did not cramp, I did not break down. The problem right this moment wasn’t physicality, it was my tennis. So I feel that is an actual optimistic.”
