“They’ve been winning everything, and I think it’s just not fair”, Wawrinka said Monday, meeting with reporters a day after beating Djokovic 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the final at Flushing Meadows. Wawrinka complained about the 6-minute break, and Djokovic looked over and apologized.
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Djokovic said the fact the US Open came at the end of a gruelling season made the final slam of the year all the more hard. The 31-year-old Swiss maestro has beaten all of them in the elite club at some stage of his career, outplaying even top-ranked Djokovic twice in Grand Slam finals.
Wawrinka had won just four of 23 previous matches against Djokovic but two of those had come on the way to winning Grand Slam titles, and the contest brought out the best in him once again.
“This is incredible, for sure, an fantastic two weeks”, said the Swiss, who missed last month’s Rio Olympics.
Djokovic started the match strong, winning the first set, but last year’s US Open champ has battled injuries throughout the summer and he faced his fair share of obstacles in the final.
“And that’s what happened, after a few games when I start to believe in myself, I start to be in the match”. It was never a dream because for me it was way too far away. “It has been an unbelievable night again”.
Djokovic entered the tournament with a left wrist injury suffered before the Rio Olympics, but also benefited from three walkovers or retirements during his run to the final.
“I was feeling the cramp coming in the third set”.
Speaking after the final, Wawrinka said: “Honestly after the match I was completely empty”. “Because of you I am the player I am today”.
“Today you were the more courageous player in the decisive moments”.
“You have to accept to suffer and you have nearly to enjoy to suffer”.
Maybe it doesn’t matter how Wawrinka is characterized. He hit 46 winners, broke Djokovic’s serve six times and became the first ever player to beat the top seed at the US Open after losing the first set.
Yet he already had gained the upper hand by the time No. 1 Djokovic clutched at his left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth set.
Finding his rhythm, Wawrinka broke back via a Djokovic double fault and after trailing for most of the opening hour, the Swiss had himself a tie-break. When they joined forces, Wawrinka was 4-7 in tournament finals. The crowd leapt up for a standing ovation.
The final score was 7-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
“It was not only in the tennis side but physically and mentally it was really tough, again”.
An emotional Wawrinka said after the match that he put everything into the tournament. Much to Wawrinka’s irritation, at 1-3 Djokovic called the trainer and took a medical timeout for treatment for blisters.
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Djokovic had 17 break point chances and took just three of them.
