Wawrinka beats Murray at rare ATP Challenger Tour match between Grand Slam champs
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka returns the ball to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday, May 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Andrew Medichini]
BORDEAUX, France (AP) — Stan Wawrinka beat Andy Murray 6-3, 6-0 in Bordeaux, France, on Wednesday in what is believed to be the first ATP Challenger Tour matchup in more than 40 years between two past major champions. Wawrinka is 38; Murray turned 36 on Monday. Wawrinka once was ranked as high as No. 3 and is currently 84th. Murray once went all the way up at No. 1 and is now 42nd. Their match Wednesday was on red clay but quite far from the French Open and with much smaller stakes and a much smaller audience. The year’s second Grand Slam tournament begins on May 28.
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Britain's Andy Murray leaves after he lost his match against Italy's Fabio Fogini during the Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Fabrizio Corradetti
FILE - Britain's Andy Murray, left, and Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka pose for photographers prior to their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2016. Stan Wawrinka beat Andy Murray 6-3, 6-0 in Bordeaux, France, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in what is believed to be the first ATP Challenger Tour matchup in more than 40 years between two past major champions. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Alastair Grant