The 29-year-old world number one, who was chasing a third NY title and 13th career major, suffered his ninth loss in 21 Grand Slam finals. Wawrinka has won four titles this year having also won in Chennai, Dubai and Geneva. “You were more courageous player in the decisive moment and he deserves his title”.
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“Before the final I was really nervous like never before”.
“Just look at the tournaments they have won, how many years they’ve been there”, said Wawrinka, who has now won his past 11 finals.
Novak was playing his 21st Grand Slam final. How many Masters 1000 has Murray? They have been there since ten years.
He defeated the Serb in the final of the 2015 French Open, winning by a scoreline of 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4. That’s why I’m not there. “What do you want me to do? For me, there is no question about that”. “I didn’t play my best tennis yet there”. I was suffering on the court, but I’m happy and proud with what I have achieved today.
After the match, Djokovic said: “Congratulations, Stan, to your team as well”.
Wawrinka, who fired 46 winners, including three aces, while saving an impressive 14 of 17 break points, prevailed after three hours and 55 minutes on Sunday.
Wawrinka is the oldest victor of the men’s tournament since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1970 and the first over 30 to take the title since Pete Sampras in 2002.
“Because first I think it’s not fair for them to put me there”, he said. But sometimes I feel also from outside no-one tells people what’s happening.
“Then I checked the draw and saw my first match it was Fernando Verdasco and I knew I had to be ready”.
Despite his latest victory and a growing resume, Wawrinka insisted he was not in the same class as the “Big Four” and would not expect to join the club any time soon. The 31-year-old only needs to win at Wimbledon to complete the career Grand Slam. He would join Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Andre Agassi, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Don Budge and Fred Perry.
There might’ve been “so much emotion”, but Wawrinka didn’t show it. Tennis is grueling, and the pressure at the highest level pressure is insane – many players lose it when things don’t go their way.
“Been around for so many years, and he plays best in the big matches”.
“I was working a lot on it and trying to find that rhythm, but my body has kind of compensated and made some different things to protect the problem I had with the arm”.
“Today I was trying to stay with him”. “He comes up with his best game”. “Hopefully it will come”.
While Djokovic dominated the first set, slowly but steadily, Wawrinka got in his groove.
In 2014, Wawrinka took on then world number one seed Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open, beating him 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.
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Asked if the rules on medical time-outs needed to be re-examined, Djokovic, who in August was elected president of the ATP Player Council, said he was open to discussing it if a “majority of players” favoured change. When the tournament starts I don’t think about whether I’m ready to win or not.
