Three-time Grand Slam champs Murray, Wawrinka to clash in Bordeaux Challenger

Murray leads the head-to-head 13-9 but Wawrinka has won five of the six clashes between the two on clay

Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at Roland-Garros 2017 Image Credit: AI/Reuters/Panoramic

May 17, 2023

The world’s best players are currently in Rome for the Italian Open where Novak Djokovic will lead a cast of eight men competing for semi-finals berths. But tennis fans will also be glued to a clash between a pair of three-time Grand Slam champions in the second round of the ATP Bordeaux Challenger.

On Tuesday, Stan Wawrinka, now ranked 84th in the world, scored a 6-3, 6-1 over Ugo Blanchet to reach the second round. Awaiting him there is Andy Murray, who is ranked No 42 and received a first round bye as the second seed.

Blockbuster clash set 👀@stanwawrinka earned a straight sets victory on Tuesday to seal a second round match against Andy Murray#ATPChallenger
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 16, 2023

Wednesday’s clash between the pair will be the 23rd meeting between the two with Murray leading their head-to-head 13-9.

Năstase won "only" two slams, so Murray-Wawrinka will be the first Challenger-level duel between guys with three slams each.

(Năstase-Kodeš was quite the h2h, though — they played at least 23 times, including both the 1971 French Open final and that 2nd-round CH match.)
— Jeff Sackmann (@tennisabstract) May 16, 2023

The Brit, who turned 36 years old on Monday, will be gunning for his second ATP Challenger title this month. He won the most recent clash between the pair – in the round of 64 at the Cincinnati Masters last year 7-6, 5-7, 7-5. Interestingly, Wawrinka has a 5-1 edge over Murray in clashes on clay.

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