After battling an arm injury during his first-round win over Czech player Jerzy Janowicz, Djokovic was the beneficiary of a walkover in round two before playing just six games in the third round before Mikhail Youhnzny pulled the pin.
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Novak Djokovic had a hard time during the US Open final against Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday.
Wawrinka had previously beaten Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros final and in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals.
Wawrinka has now won all three Grand Slam finals in which he’s played and, all three times, he took down the world’s top player.
“This is honestly awesome”. I am me. I have been achieving something that I never expect the last three years, I have been winning three grand slams and it’s more than incredible.
“I don’t think it’s so much about the finals, I think it’s more about him playing a lot of matches in a row”, said Norman. I was completely shaking. I had to bring everything I had today against Novak. This is something I never expect and dream about. “It’s been incredible night again”. That’s kind of rich, considering he has spent nearly exactly half as much time on court as Wawrinka so far: a tad under 9 hours vs. slightly less than 18 hours.
One Wawrinka fan tweeted the video of a remarkable rally between the two tennis stars.
Wawrinka had only won four of his last 11 matches against top 10 players but after demolishing Djokovic at Roland Garros past year, he said he never doubted his chances.
“You [Wawrinka] were the more courageous player in the decisive moments, he is a great champion and he just deserves to win this title, ” he said.
NEW YORK (AP) – Stan Wawrinka was about 2 1/2 hours removed from winning the U.S. Open for his third major championship when he was presented with a question he probably was figuring would be coming. “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”.
“Stan, sorry man”, Djokovic was recorded when he spoke to Wawrinka courtside. He also extended his streak of consecutive wins in tournament finals to 11. The crowd leapt up for a standing ovation.
“Stan won three grand slams now and three different ones; (an) Olympic medal”. Big 4? Big 5?
“I lost my nerve in the important moments”.
Wawrinka took the final three sets to earn a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win.
While Wawrinka had signalled his mental toughness, Djokovic was now struggling physically as he pulled up with pain in his left leg at the start of the fourth.
In disbelief after the match, as he said: “I don’t know what’s happening right now”.
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He took ice on his legs at the changeover and then could hardly serve, producing two double faults in the next game, yet saving break point to hold. With three grand slam titles, Wawrinka has been able to break the dominance of Big Four, comprising the quartet of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer Andy Murray and the Serb, who have shared 46 major titles among them. Against Wawrinka, he only managed to win 3 of 22.
