Stan Wawrinka produced a stunning performance to beat world number one Novak Djokovic and win the US Open for a career third grand slam crown.
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Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are playing for the U.S. Open championship. That’s why, when he shows his mettle during a match, he likes to point his right index finger to his temple.
Wawrinka overcame world number one Novak Djokovic in four thrilling sets in NY to add another major title to those he won at the Australian Open in 2014 and the French Open a year ago.
“In the decisive moments he was the better player, he was tougher mentally, he knew what to do. We both felt the demanding match that we played today, physically”, Djokovic said after the match. “He knew what to do”.
“I lost my nerves in the important moments”.
“I think I played a lot of tennis in these two weeks!”
“I’m 31 years old”, Wawrinka said in NY when asked why he wasn’t looking toward retirement.
At 2-5, the trainer reappeared but Wawrinka saw the job through leaving Djokovic to finish a Slam runner-up for the ninth time. “I think that’s what decided the match”, Djokovic said.
Stanislas Wawrinka, who has “Stan the Man” as his moniker is now surely the man because in winning all the Grand Slam finals he has qualified for he has had to beat the No.1 on the three occasions – Rafael Nadal for the 2014 Australian Open; Djokovic in the 2015 French Open and again Djokovic in NY.
Djokovic said his “toenails were off and bleeding” limiting his movement, but did not want to linger on the issue after the match so as not to take anything away from Wawrinka’s victory.
But look at Wawrinka now.
Meanwhile, Djokovic was happy to just get to the final after almost missing out on the tournament all together.
“Stan won three grand slams now and three different ones; (an) Olympic medal”.
“In the matches like this, if you don’t use the opportunities, the other guy comes and takes it”.
The 29-year-old Serb began the year by winning the Australian Open and his first-ever French Open title to complete the “Nole Slam” after closing 2015 with Wimbledon and U.S. Open triumphs.
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.
In reply, Djokovic praised Wawrinka’s resolve. He went from appearing locked-in at the outset to completely drained in every way.
Djokovic converted three of 17 break points, while his opponent was six of 10.
The thing is, it’s often – particularly early in events – that Wawrinka is pointedly not on.
Painful blisters slowed the world No.1 during the final set of his loss to Stan Wawrinka in NY.
The Serb also served seven double faults, a mark he hit in two previous matches at this year’s final major.
Mattek-Sands and Safarova broke Garcia again in the opening game of the third set.
Wawrinka ousted Djokovic en route to winning both the Australian Open in 2014 and French Open previous year, and he proved his class again here to deny the Serb a 13th grand slam success of his own.
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“You are a great champion and a great person”.
