Murray exits French Open in first round to impressive Wawrinka

Andy Murray was beaten comfortably 6-4 6-4 6-2 by Stan Wawrinka on what could be his last match at the French Open.

The Brit has struggled for years following his hip surgery, and after the upcoming Paris Olympic Games and Wimbledon tournaments, speculation is mounting that the Scot will retire, and 2024 was a first appearance for him at Roland-Garros since 2020.

The carrot of an all-British second-round encounter against Cameron Norrie had been dangled in front of Murray by the draw, should he have overcome Wawrinka.

However, the Swiss was better throughout, sealing the first two sets courtesy of solitary breaks before racing away with the third set to set up a showdown with either Norrie or Pavel Kotov next.

This was the 24th meeting between these two players that had won three Grand Slam titles each, and a repeat of their first-round encounter from four years ago.

Murray was beaten in straight sets on that occasion, and his start here was far from ideal after the Swiss secured a break in the opening game.

Two opportunities to break back came and went to give Wawrinka a 3-1 lead, before the Scot showed impressive resilience to save three break points himself and take an important hold at 4-3 down.

However, Wawrinka would draw first blood after 53 minutes of play with a powerful serve and volley on his third set point.

The Brit was then a set and a break down at 2-1, as Wawrinka penetrated through his serve once again by sealing the deal with a cross-court backhand shot.

The Swiss would go onto double his advantage with a hold to 30 and move one set away from the second round by rounding things off with an ace.

Murray was straining every sinew to keep Wawrinka at bay, but a couple of superb backhands secured another break at the start of the third set.

The writing was on the wall when Wawrinka took yet another break when Murray hit a routine forehand into the net, and another straight-sets defeat at Roland-Garros beckoned for the former world No.1.

He threatened to take a bagel following an emphatic hold to love, but Murray restored an element of respectability to the scoreline with a show of resistance to get on the board at 4-1.

Murray took a hold to 15 which he rounded off with a well-placed forehand at 5-2, but Wawrinka aptly finished the contest with another devastating backhand to take a comprehensive win.