Stan Wawrinka (R) of Switzerland and Novak Djokovic (L) of Serbia pose with their trophies after their Men’s Singles Final Match on Day Fourteen of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2016.
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NEW YORK, Sept 11 Following Stan Wawrinka’s win at the U.S. Open on Sunday, it may finally be time to officially expand the “Big Four” in men’s tennis to the “Big Five”.
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. To the side of the court on Arthur Ashe stadium in NY, “9/11/01” was inscribed 15 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the city.
The Swiss tennis star told the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium after his victory “It’s been a big battle on the court. four hours”. Djokovic, Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have won 42 of 47 majors since the 2005 French Open, though three of those five now belong to Wawrinka. “I really didn’t know whether or not I’m going to come, to be honest”, Djokovic said, saying he made the decision to play in NY just days before the tournament.
Djokovic was granted a medical timeout after holding serve for 1-3.
He took a medical time-out before Wawrinka’s serve in the fourth, which angered his opponent, although there appeared no lingering bad feeling at the finish as the pair shared a warm embrace.
Wawrinka wouldn’t go down by two sets, however, jumping to a 4-1 lead in the second and then – after Djokovic had evened things at 4-4 – held for 5-4 and broke Djokovic once again when he pushed a forehand groundstroke wide, the two in a dead heat at the one-hour, 45-minute mark.
After a forehand passing shot drew an errant volley for a break early in the third set, Wawrinka pointed to his temple. Earlier at the U.S. Open, there was also speculation about a possible shoulder injury. In Paris, Djokovic became only the fourth player in the 48-year-old Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles in a career.
When he managed to compose himself, he had generous words for Djokovic, who has been a friend and mentor since the two were kids.
“The Big Four, I’m really far from them”, offered a humble Wawrinka. A major tournament, three years running.
In the girls’ doubles final Saturday, the USA team of Jada Hart and Ena Shibahara defeated fellow Americans Day and Caroline Dolehide 4-6, 6-2, 13-11.
Wawrinka, however, had found his groove and after breaking once with a trademark backhand, cannoned down the line, he did so again at 5-4 to snatch the second and level up.
Wawrinka had already been pushed to the limit in reaching the final.
During the final, which was played on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mattek-Sands wore knee-high socks and a left wrist band with the same red-and-white-striped, star-spangled design she did while teaming with Jack Sock to win a gold medal in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last month. On Sunday night in NY he beat a champion who was severely hampered by blisters but who ultimately had no answer for Wawrinka’s sizzling passing shots. The Swiss has won three of their seven grand slam encounters.
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Mattek-Sands and Safarova, who were seeded 12th, added this championship to those from the Australian Open and French Open in 2015. He eluded a third-round thicket when he faced a match point in a fourth-set tiebreaker against Britain’s Daniel Evans.
