Andy Murray’s French Open preparations suffered a setback as he lost to Stan Wawrinka in his first match at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Bordeaux. Murray was looking for a good performance ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year but won just three games, and was bagelled in set two. Former world No. 1 Murray won just six of 21 second-serve points and gave up 12 break-point chances.
Andy Murray was swept aside in straight sets by Stan Wawrinka in his opening match at the Bordeaux Challenger.
Murray was looking to build momentum at the ATP second-tier event ahead of the upcoming French Open.
But he went down 6-3 6-0 against fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka.
Murray won just six of 21 second-serve points and gave up 12 break-point chances, four of which were taken by Wawrinka.
Murray will likely now turn his attentions to the French Open, which starts on May 28, although there could also be the chance he plays again on clay next week.
Both Murray and Wawrinka were looking for a positive showing in Bordeaux after losing early in the Italian Open.
Murray won the title in his last Challenger Tour outing, but couldn’t find the same level this time as he was well beaten.
Former French Open champion Wawrinka broke in the fourth game to take early control of the contest.
Even though he passed up five chances to clinch the set with another break in the eighth game, Wawrinka had no problems serving it out.
And the second set was one-way traffic as Wawrinka raced to victory with a bagel over his old rival.
Murray was broken in the opening game and then didn’t win a point across the next two games as Wawrinka moved 3-0 ahead.
Wawrinka then won the next three games to wrap up the set and secure his passage to the last eight.
Murray has only made one appearance at the French Open since making the semi-finals in 2017.
On that occasion in 2020 he was beaten in straight sets in the first round by Wawrinka.
