French Open: Did Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka Ruin Each Other’s Careers 7 Years Ago? Re-Visiting Their Iconic Match

Once upon a time, Andy Murray‘s unparalleled success was something that every tennis fan bowed down to. After all, in the era of the Big 3, it was not easy to be labeled a fitting addition to make it the Big 4. But now, even though age may be a factor, why has the Brit, once ripe with potential, started diminishing all of a sudden? It might have to do with Stan Wawrinka, with whom Murray played a fateful semifinal at Roland Garros in 2017.

The death knell for both of their careers sounded on that hot summer day in Paris, after a wild ride of a match. It was the same event that marked the beginning of the end of their glittering careers, in a place known to subject players to injuries. While Murray’s hip gave out on him, Wawrinka’s knee eventually required surgery, taking him out for the rest of the season.

“That match I played against Stan a few years ago was a brutal one,” Murray said in 2020. “I never felt the same after that match.” Now the duo is set to face each other at the French Open yet again and it’s impossible to forget that tennis rivalries rarely get more intense or interesting than these two.

While both Wawrinka and Murray have nothing but praise for each other, their career trajectories have long been braided together in both positive and negative ways. One pivotal moment came in 2017 in Paris. “I am sad to announce that after talking with my team and doctor I had to make a difficult decision to undergo a medical intervention on my knee,” Wawrinka said that year, along with being prepared to miss the events that followed for the whole season.

The tussle seemed to be real and the determination was hard to break on either side of the court. Wawrinka, who earned the slot by defeating some of the top contenders, managed to secure a victory in three sets but had to go home in bad form. His ship started to sink right from that moment as he was able to secure just one more title in Rotterdam in 2019 and has had to keep himself away after that particular season. Murray didn’t have it any easier.

The match brought another terror as the Brit incurred a hip injury that ended up requiring surgery as well. “I remember getting up in the night, I was lying on the sofa in loads of pain. I never recovered. I couldn’t extend my leg behind me properly after that match,” he mentioned in an interview.

Murray made several attempts to regain his previous form but the injuries blocked his way every time. Now that he has come up with the announcement to retire soon, it is evident that he might have had a flashback of the terrible match that acted as a slow poison. It badly affected his opponent too.

The extensive impact of the injury on Stan Wawrinka’s career

The damage incurred on Stan Wawrinka’s body after the dark battle back in 2017 turned out to be a lot more persistent than expected. The Swiss tennis star was optimistic about regaining his momentum in the game right after the surgery he was supposed to go through. “I’m already looking ahead and planning my recovery. I love this sport and I will work hard to get back to my top level and play many more years,” he said, along with letting fans know of the required medical attention.

Everyone expected a quick recovery as he promised but it somehow came a long time after the expected period. Wawrinka, who seemed to be at the top of his levels, had to call off the whole remaining season and therefore faced an evident drop in his rankings and even worse, his confidence.

History is set to be repeated at the ongoing Roland Garros. While the last time they battled brought a terrible fate to both sides, all fans could hope for is a safe and sound competition this time around.