Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland overwhelmed world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3, winning his first U.S. Open title here on Sunday.
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He was unable to build on the momentum of the first-set tiebreak against Wawrinka, which featured a breathtaking Djokovic backhand down the line immediately after his rival had just won a highlight-reel point of his own. Fans and Wawrinka became frustrated at certain points with the delays in an already grueling match.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) and Stan Wawrinka (SUI) at the trophy presentation ceremony after their match on day fourteen of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The Pole has now won all three of his grand slam finals, and goes equal with Britain’s Andy Murray with his three titles.
A trainer works on the foot of Novak Djokovic of Serbia while playing Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during their 2016 US Open men’s final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in NY on September 11, 2016.
That’s exactly what Wawrinka did, shaking off the loss of the first set to post a 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory over 12-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
Djokovic started the match strong, winning the first set, but last year’s US Open champ has battled injuries throughout the summer and he faced his fair share of obstacles in the final.
Djokovic only played three complete matches before entering the final.
There were early signs of some physical discomfort when Djokovic patted over two smashes at 3-0 down in the third set but again he broke back, converting just his third break point of 14.
Sunday he went to a place he had not been prior in NY, champion at the Open in an unlikely finish, winning in four bruising sets over Djokovic, who has dominated the men’s tennisphere over the last two years.
“He’s been around for so many years and he plays best in the big matches. He’s winning five Masters 1000 minimum”, explained Wawrinka.
But he insisted that he was not trying to gain an advantage by forcing Wawrinka to wait to serve at a crucial part of the final. The play went for about 4hrs.
He suffered cramping in the fourth set and was granted a medical timeout without a changeover.
The only men to break that stranglehold are Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic at the 2009 and 2014 US Open tournaments respectively.and Wawrinka.
“At this level of professional sport in tennis, after playing seven, eight months of the season you are not fresh”.
Djokovic admitted Wawrinka fully deserved the title after four gruelling hours on the Arthur Ashe court. “He kept his cool”, said the 2011 and 2015 champion.
“Novak is always so nice with me. Because you think, ‘God, he’s just got to mis-hit a few of them when he’s down break points.’ And he never did”.
“Terrible conversion of the break points”, Djokovic said.
“Congratulations to Stan and his team”, Djokovic said.
Djokovic was the only member of the so-called “Big Four” in men’s tennis to reach the semifinals while the women’s draw produced a first-time champion for the second straight year following Flavia Pennetta’s magical run in 2015. “I was trying to be even tougher with myself. I was suffering on the court, but I’m happy and proud with what I have achieved today”, Wawrinka said.
“There is no secret”.
“If you want to beat the No. 1 player in the world, you have to give everything”.
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“You have to accept to suffer and you have nearly to enjoy to suffer”, he said.
