Wawrinka won in four sets, 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 7-5 6-3 and now has three grand slam titles. “What do you want me to do?”
Advertisement
In the women’s doubles final there was home American success as Bethanie Mattek-Sands and her Czech partner Lucie Safarova downed French duo Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
The 31-year-old may never have the cachet of the so-called “Big Four” – Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – but he’s ready and able to give any one of them a run for his money every chance he gets. In the final set, Novak required treatment for a blister on his toe and was granted unusual medical timeout. He won five straight games to take a 4-1 lead in the second, but even though Djokovic rallied a bit, he took it 6-4.
“We know each other for many, many years”, Wawrinka said.
Djokovic was asked if he felt the time-out had been fair on Wawrinka.
Back then, the odds were stacked against Wawrinka yet, after dropping the first set, he unleashed his huge backhand and beat Djokovic in four sets.
Meanwhile, Djokovic was happy to just get to the final after almost missing out on the tournament all together.
The victory was worth $3.5 million for Wawrinka, who is only missing a Wimbledon victory to complete the coveted career grand slam.
He has won 11 consecutive tournament finals.
Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka stunned Novak Djokovic to win the men’s singles title at the US Open in NY.
It was not just Wawrinka revealing all afterwards: Djokovic claimed a wrist injury had threatened his participation at Flushing Meadows until nearly a week before the tournament. Fans and Wawrinka became frustrated at certain points with the delays in an already grueling match.
“I think this Grand Slam was the most painful, physically and mentally, that I ever played”, Wawrinka said. This had happened in the Australian Open final against Nadal in 2014, but the victor is known for a quiet but steely resolve.
Stan Wawrinka was about 2 1/2 hours removed from winning the U.S. Open for his third major championship when he was presented with a question he probably was figuring would be coming.
Djokovic dominated the tiebreaker 7-1 after some shaky moments earlier in the set. Against Wawrinka, he only managed to win 3 of 22.
A moment of silence was observed at the U.S. Open to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“He deserves to be in the mix, no doubt about it. Stan has won three Grand Slams now and three different ones; Olympic medal”, said the Serb.
A huge American flag was unfurled over the court, presented by a Brooklyn-based U.S. Marine Corp battalion.
Earlier, American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who wore star-spangled socks and sweatbands while winning the doubles title with Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, choked up during her victory speech, saying, “It’s a special day today here for everybody in NY”.
Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 champion, had been seeking a third Slam of the year and 13th Major of his career.
Advertisement
As Wawrinka placed one stinging shot after another right on a line, Djokovic looked up at coach Boris Becker while gesticulating with his hands and muttering.
