Stan Wawrinka: Andy Murray is a great champion who has won all the big prizes

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka expected a "tough clash" against former world No. 1 Andy Murray but that wasn't the case as the Swiss thrashed the Briton 6-1 6-3 6-2 to reach the French Open second round. 

Wawrinka, seeded at No. 16, claimed a total of six breaks throughout the match and didn't drop a single serve to easily make it past three-time Grand Slam champion Murray.

"I was expecting a tough match. I was really focussed with a champion like Andy. Even if the scoreboard is only one side like today, you have to keep focus," Wawrinka said, per the ATP website. "You never know what can happen. Today I'm really happy with what I have done on the court. Great to be back, great to feel that way, and looking forward for the next match."

Wawrinka shows his respect for Murray 

Wawrinka dominated Murray on the court but  underlined after the match that the Briton is a "great champion."

"Andy’s a great champion who’s won all the big prizes in the game,” Wawrinka told post-match interviewer Cedric Pioline. “It wasn’t certain that he would play again but so it is a pleasure to see him on the court," Wawrinka underlined, per RFI. 

Wawrinka plays next German Dominik Koepfer, who made the Rome Masters quarterfinal last week.

"Tough player. Been playing well. I saw him playing in Rome a few matches. I saw him play last week, also, so I expect he's in full confidence," Wawrinka said. "He won a lot of matches against some top guys, so it's going to be an interesting match. Never played or practised with him, so it's going to be a completely different match. Hopefully I can keep playing well."

Meanwhile, Murray acknowledged playing Wawrinka in a Grand Slam first round wasn't ideal but that's no excuse since he failed to play at a good level.

"Obviously an extremely tough draw. Even if I played very well, it would have been no guarantee that I win that match," Murray said. "But I also didn't play well. I served under 40 per cent first serves in the court, that's just not good enough, really, against anyone, and especially someone as good as Stan.

"You want to be serving in the 60 per cent [range], that sort of region. You won't see many players serve under 40 per cent the rest of the tournament. That's just not good enough."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2S6DcA0