But could it be that his temple-pointing is actually one half of the “screw loose” adage, indicating insanity?
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Yes, she is. And a two-time Grand Slam champion, too.
Despite losing the opening set, the 31-year-old Swiss continued to play aggressively as he defeated Djokovic 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in a gruelling contest that lasted nearly four hours at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Djokovic, however, admitted that he was outplayed by Wawrinka in the summit clash. And once that confidence translated into his tennis, it nearly felt like a dam had burst. Later, Djokovic started limping and received more treatment.
After his win, Wawrinka pointed to his head with his forefinger.
“So what? Are you saying next year I focus only on Wimbledon?” I’m willing to bet he sees red – literally. You know, he goes for his shots from the forehand side.
Nothing else can explain why he plays so differently in a title decider as compared to any other match.
It made a difference on Sunday against Djokovic.
I can not quite figure out why that kind of performance from Wawrinka is only restricted to the semis and beyond though. But the usually clinical and ruthless Serb was unable to get a foothold in the match once the first set was over.
Think about this: Wawrinka almost was gone before the end of the U.S. Open’s first week. But that doesn’t even begin to describe his early-round struggles. His most recent defeat before the US Open was a sad straight-sets loss to the long forgotten Grigor Dimitrov.
“They have not only been winning, but being in semi-finals, final every time”. He choked away the third set, smashed a racquet in the fourth, and in general looked lifeless and talentless.
All that while, Venus and Pliskova were engaged in a dramatic battle that brought Ashe to its feet.
Overcoming the nerves Wawrinka’s confident performance was at odds with his pre-match nerves, when he broke down in tears while speaking to his coach Magnus Norman. Needless to say, my friends were not pleased at having been forced to miss all of that. Since Djokovic turned 20, Wawrinka is 3-18 against the world number one. He’s a very complete player.
“He just steps in”. “We know each other (for) many, many years, and I had the chance to practice many times with him and to play him on a big stage”. “He comes up with his best game”, was Djokovic’s assessment about the Swiss when asked what makes it so hard to play him in a final. I really didn’t know whether or not I’m going to come, to be honest. I was completely shaking.
“And that’s what happened, after a few games when I start to believe in myself, I start to be in the match. I was shaking in the locker-room”, said the Swiss, who was match point down against Britain’s Dan Evans in the third round.
Swiss Wawrinka said ” This is incredible. Djokovic, as a good returner in the final set – managed to convert only 3 of 17 break chances.
“This was the most hard slam I ever played”, Wawrinka said.
Wawrinka is the first US Open champion to save a match point in a previous match to eventually lift the title since Djokovic in 2011. The Swiss seemed upset about that, and Djokovic was accused of gamesmanship by a lot of fans on social media. I certainly think that Serena has got another good one or two years left in her, right at the top of the game.
The humidity in NY has shot through the roof in the last one week, and all the players seemed to have been affected by it.
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The most striking aspect of Wawrinka’s victory over Djokovic, however, had little to do with his weapons. “That’s it. If your opponent is struggling, if he has blood coming out, you have to stop”.
