“I know if I want to have a chance to beat the top players, I need to be mentally ready for that”. “So close, so far”.
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It was a tough mental battle from there.
The world No.3, Stan Wawrinka, put on a show of endurance and doggedness on Sunday to win the 2016 US Open by beating World No.1, Novak Djokovic, in four sets 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Against any other player, the numbers would have been more like 70 winners to 30 errors – Wawrinka was that good yesterday.
“I played a lot of tennis these two weeks”. “He knew what to do”.
Djokovic, who was seeking his third Grand Slam title of the season after Australia Open and French Open, paid a heavy price for converting just three of 17 break points. In today’s bout, Wawrinka defeated Djokovic 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. “No, I’m just focused on what I’m doing in the court”.
Stan Wawrinka has beaten world number one, Novak Djokovic, to win the US Open title.
Serbia’s Djokovic made a strong start but struggled physically as the final entered a fourth hour in NY. In the final set, Novak required treatment for a blister on his toe and was granted unusual medical timeout. Wawrinka complained about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized.
At 5-2, Djokovic had some more medical work done on his toe, which was seen to now be bloody.
“I really didn’t know whether or not I’m going to come, to be honest”, Djokovic said, saying he made the decision to play in NY just days before the tournament.
Stan Wawrinka has won as many Grand Slam titles as Andy Murray, but even after capturing the US Open the 31-year-old insists his record does not bear comparison with tennis” “Big Four’.
“He loves to play in the big matches”, Djokovic added.
“The heat of the moment and the importance of the match was too strong for me at certain periods of the match and if you lose your cool the match can go away”.
But look at Wawrinka now. “I never had a goal to win a Grand Slam but I am trying as best I can”, said Wawrinka who now has three majors to his name.
What does Stan Wawrinka’s trademark temple-pointing gesture, which he brings out after every big moment of success, mean?
This is Wawrinka’s third career Grand Slam title – he already has an Australian Open and a French Open in the cupboard – and makes a really good case for tennis’s so-called “big four” to be upgraded to a “big five” to include the only other multiple major victor of the generation.
“They have not only been winning, but being in semi-finals, final every time. I am completely empty”, said No. 3 Wawrinka, who noted during the trophy ceremony that Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Wawrinka also had gracious words for Djokovic.
Despite Djokovic’s physical issues, Wawrinka was a convincing champion.
By the third set, Wawrinka had cut a complete figure with a superior backhand technique and soft touch, a decent serve as well as marvelous psychological strength. Did it again after a forehand passing shot drew an errant volley for a break early in the third.
He’d spent almost 18 hours on court, saving a match point in a five-set thriller over unheralded Briton Dan Evans in the third round.
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After three-set victories in the first two round, Wawrinka had to suffer through a five-set win over Daniel Evans in the third round.
