Tennis icon hails ‘Hall of Famers’ Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka ahead of ‘bizarre’ French Open clash

Oli Dickson Jefford
Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka
Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka before their 2017 French Open clash

Tennis icon John McEnroe has heaped praise on “Hall of Famers” Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka ahead of their poignant French Open clash on Sunday.

Murray and Wawrinka, both three-time Grand Slam champions, will face off in the opening night session on Court Philippe Chatrier, in what could be the last Roland Garros appearance for both.

World No 75 Murray has heavily implied that he will call a time on his career after Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, while retirement rumours have also swirled around world No 97 Wawrinka.

This will be the fourth time in as many French Open appearances that 2016 runner-up Murray has played his Swiss rival on the Paris clay, with previous matches in 2016, 2017, and 2020.

And seven-time singles major winner McEnroe has described the draw as “bizarre” ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

But the American, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999, also heaped praise on both men ahead of the encounter.

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“It’s crazy and fitting that these two veterans, who’ve struggled with injuries, have to face each other in the first round,” said the Eurosport pundit.

“They probably looked at the draw and thought, ‘I don’t want to play a top guy first round,’ and then saw each other’s names.

“It’s bizarre but fitting. How much longer are they going to play? Murray wants to play the Olympics, but who knows. Wawrinka’s future is also uncertain.

“I hope it’s a great match because these are two first-ballot Hall of Famers who have brought so much to the sport, even if they don’t get the recognition they deserve because of the other top guys.

“Hopefully, it will be a good one.”

McEnroe’s assessment of the two will likely turn out to be true, with Murray and Wawrinka forging stellar careers.

Murray in particular has achieved huge success, with his three Grand Slam victories held alongside two Olympic gold medals and 43 weeks as world No 1.

While late-bloomer Wawrinka won three majors across three consecutive seasons, claiming the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2016 US Open titles.

Their meeting on Sunday will be a 23rd between the two, with Murray holding a 13-9 advantage in their head-to-head.

However, Wawrinka is a stronger clay courter, and the 2016 Roland Garros semi-final between the two is the only time in six clay court meetings that the Swiss star has tasted defeat.

The winner will face 32nd seed Cameron Norrie or Pavel Kotov in round two, with a round three clash against second seed Jannik Sinner also a possibility.

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