Djokovic was the only member of the so-called “Big Four” in men’s tennis to reach the semi-finals while the women’s draw produced a first-time champion for the second straight year following Flavia Pennetta’s magical run in 2015.
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The second medical time out, with Wawrinka 3-1 to the good, mustered a slight improvement from Djokovic, who managed to hold serve to stay in touch with the buoyant Swiss star. Wawrinka fired 46 winners, including three aces, but more impressive was that he was able to save 14 of 17 break points.
Djokovic needed treatment during the fourth set, revealing his “toe nails were off and bleeding”.
Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beat world number one Novak Djokovic with a scintillating display to win his first US Open and third Grand Slam title.
Wawrinka, the 31-year-old third seed, triumphed 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 after nearly four hours of high intensity tennis. “But of course coming into a grand slam final you are giving it your best”. “I know if I want to have a chance to beat the top players, I need to be mentally ready for that”.
The 31-year-old Swiss maestro has beaten all of them in the elite club at some stage of his career, outplaying even top-ranked Djokovic twice in Grand Slam finals.
“Winning four Grand Slams in a row for me was an incredible achievement”. I was suffering on the court but I’m happy and proud of what I have achieved.
“You were a more courageous player in a decisive moment”, Djokovic told Wawrinka after the match. This is something I never expect and dream about.
Wawrinka had only won four of his last 11 matches against top 10 players but after demolishing Djokovic at Roland Garros a year ago, he said he never doubted his chances. “I’m trying every year to find solutions”, Wawrinka said. There are way better tennis players than me on grass.
Painful blisters slowed the world No.1 during the final set of his loss to Stan Wawrinka in NY. After three-set victories in the first two rounds, he had to suffer through a five-set win over Daniel Evans in the third round.
“Just the heat of the moment and importance of the match, I guess, you know, was too strong for me at certain periods of the match”.
Wawrinka, described by Djokovic as a player who rises to the big occasion like no other, admitted he was a mass of nerves before Sunday’s championship match. “I decided like eight, nine days before the start of the Open just to try so to play finals, it’s quite unbelievable”.
“And right now I am really exhausted, I am completely empty”. But then he suddenly relaxed and Wawrinka came back strongly to tie the set at five-all.
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It is not the first time Wawrinka has triumphed over Djokovic in a Grand Slam competition.
