The 31-year-old Swiss, who defeated Djokovic on his way to winning the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open, denied the world number one a third grand slam title this year following his wins in Australia and France.
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As Novak Djokovic retired with fatigue then, so he looked to do at the US Open finals this year, taking two medical time-outs towards the end of the match, struggling as Wawrinka inexplicably looked fresh for the entirety of the four set, four hour match.
For the No. 6-seeded Auger-Aliassime, his victory over the fifth-seeded Kecmanovic gives him his first Grand Slam junior singles title after reaching the final at the French Open and winning the boys’ doubles title at this year’s French Open and last year’s U.S. Open.
Wawrinka has now won all three Grand Slam finals he has played and his last 11 finals in a row, and has become the oldest male victor of the US Open since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1970.
With the win, Wawrinka has become the oldest US Open men’s champion in 46 years. “You’re in another final of a Grand Slam, you don’t want to lose it. because the trophy of the victor and the finalist is not the same”. “It’s part of tennis history, and it will always be like that and I think it’s great like that”. “We both felt the demanding match that we played, but he came out on top, he was the better player, tougher mentally”. He is a complete player. “But every time I step on the court I try to win every match”, said Wawrinka after the match.
Wawrinka said his fear was down to not wanting to lose a grand-slam final, as he instead improved to 3-0 in major deciders.
“Stan was the more courageous player in the decisive moments and he deserved to win this title”.
“And right now I am really exhausted, I am completely empty”.
“At the beginning I told my coach Magnus (Norman) before the match I had a feeling”, Wawrinka said. Wawrinka went up 4-1 in the second before Djokovic took the next three. “(He has) been around for so many years, and he plays best in the big matches”.
Wawrinka had been unseeded at that tournament, while 19-year-old Novak Djokovic was the fourth seed. It was a bad conversion of the break points.
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. “I’m very proud of it, so this loss today can not overshadow the great moments I have had in Australia and especially in Paris”, he said. He won the match in a little under four hours to claim his third Grand Slam title. I am very proud of it, so this loss today can not overshadow the great moments I have had in Australia and especially in Paris. They have been in all semi-finals of grand slams, all finals, all semi-finals of Masters 1000, all finals.
In reply, Djokovic praised Wawrinka’s resolve.
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“I said, You know what?” Just bad from my side.
