6-4 7-5 6-3 victory over Djokovic on Sunday, Wawrinka captured his third major title, matching the haul of long-standing Big Four member Murray.
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Djokovic, who won last year’s U.S. Open and is 2-5 in Open finals, remains tied with Roy Emerson for fourth-most major titles all-time with 12, missing an opportunity to pull within one major of both Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal.
Wawrinka, 31, spent most his career in the shadow of Swiss compatriot Federer, arguably the greatest player of all time.
This is Wawrinka’s third career Grand Slam title – he already has an Australian Open and a French Open in the cupboard – and makes a really good case for tennis’s so-called “big four” to be upgraded to a “big five” to include the only other multiple major victor of the generation.
Wawrinka cashed in on six of 10 break point opportunities, and frustrated Djokovic by saving 14 of 17 break points against him to become the oldest U.S. Open victor since Australian Ken Rosewall (35) in 1970.
“Honestly, after the match, I was completely empty”, the third-seeded Wawrinka said.
Stan Wawrinka admitted he was a nervous wreck in the locker room before the U.S. Open men’s final against Novak Djokovic.
Wawrinka is 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, having beaten the No. 1 player in each of them.
Who was the last player to down Djokovic in a grand slam final?
He has also spent nearly 18 hours on court while Djokovic has made the final after being in action for just over nine. Wawrinka said nothing in reply, just gave a thumb’s up as in what else am I going to say?
Djokovic had a walkover in the second round when Jiri Vesely withdrew due to injury before the match. “We know each other (for) many, many years, and I had the chance to practice many times with him and to play him on a big stage”.
Stan Wawrinka is the first to acknowledge he hasn’t always been the most consistent player – or the strongest mentally. That court time included an epic four-hour, third-round match in which he had to battle back in five sets against Britain’s Daniel Evans.
“He loves to play in the big matches”, Djokovic said. Wawrinka, at the 2015 French Open when he also conceded the first set. Wawrinka swept the ninth game and on the next game even the match one set apiece when Djokovic hit a forehand wide right, later slamming his racket against his chair in disgust.
He arrived at the US Open with a well-publicized wrist injury, then had his arm and both shoulders worked on by the trainer in matches during the fortnight. “Because of you I am where I am today”, he said. “I didn’t know if I was going to come a few weeks before (the tournament)”. Djokovic was broken from 40-15, donating a pair of double faults in the game. The break in momentum displeased Wawrinka, who received an apology from Djokovic, saying he “couldn’t stand it”.
Djokovic had been 51-0 in U.S. Open matches when taking the first set.
Wawrinka dropped five of the opening seven games of the NY decider before recovering to win in three hours, 54 minutes.
Wawrinka consolidated the break by fighting off triple break point from 0-40 in the fifth game, and holding with an ace and an inside-out forehand victor.
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However, the big Swiss has won his last 10 finals.
