Wawrinka wore down Novak Djokovic and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday for his first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.
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After three-set victories in the first two round, Wawrinka had to suffer through a five-set win over Daniel Evans in the third round. He also becomes one of just five players who have won at least two Slams at age of 30 or older.
That said, Laver owner of 11 major titles, and the only two-time victor of a calendar-year Grand Slam was impressed by what he saw of Wawrinka from the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands Sunday.
While coming out top at a grand slam is never easy, each of Wawrinka’s three titles have come against the world number one on the day.
Wawrinka said he was shaking with nerves before the match, crying even, suffocated by the weight of expectation that he was faced with playing for another major trophy.
The US Open final saw Swiss star Stan Wawrinka take on the Serbian Novak Djokovic, and the match was every bit the spectacle people were hoping to see.
“He was more courageous, because he stepped in and played aggressive”, Djokovic said, “where I was kind of more waiting for things to happen”. I am completely empty.
“Novak is always so nice with me. It has been an unbelievable night again”.
They swapped games until Wawrinka broke Djokovic once again to take the third set in an hour and 16 minutes to take control of a high-drama affair befitting of a major final.
U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka took time out at the end of his victory speech to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“I think that’s what decided the match”, said Djokovic, who added it was painful to move around the court. This has been absolutely deserved today. If you want to beat the No. 1 player in the world, you have to give everything. He just deserves this title. That continued a pattern that carried throughout: Djokovic, as good a returner as there is in the game – now, certainly, and perhaps ever – managed to convert only 3 of 17 break chances. This time, blood was visible on Djokovic’s sock.
Despite Djokovic’s physical issues, Wawrinka was a convincing champion.
Late bloomer Wawrinka did not win multiple tournaments in a single season until 2014 and has just one Masters series crown. The crowd leapt up for a standing ovation.
En route to his final, Wawrinka defeated both local hope Marin Cilic and Argentine big-hitter Juan Martin del Potro.
This was the first time since round one Djokovic had not been ahead in sets but more unnerving was that he had lost control, Wawrinka unleashing at will while his opponent was left protesting at his box and smiling in disbelief. His best performance in London is two quarter-final appearances in 2014 and 2015.
“In the decisive moments he was the better player, he was tougher mentally, he knew what to do”.
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It can safely be said that when it comes to being clutch or showing that he has what it takes to compete with the top lot, Wawrinka has not been a disappointment. The break lasted approximately six minutes.
