“We played nearly 4 hours”, said Djokovic, “and I think I can speak in the name of Stan, as well: We both felt it”.
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“This is incredible”, an exhausted Wawrinka said on the court after a three-hour, 55-minute match.
It may be time for the “Big Four” to become the “Big Five”. “I was shaking in the locker room”, Wawrinka said. “Match after match I was playing better”. I am completely empty.
“I was working a lot on it and trying to find that rhythm, but my body has kind of compensated and made some different things to protect the problem I had with the arm”, he said.
“Physically I was there”. My game was there. Just put the fight on the court and you will have a chance to win, and that’s what happened.
Coming into the match, Djokovic only played three complete matches before entering the final. I was suffering on the court, but I’m happy and proud with what I have achieved today. “I couldn’t stand, sorry”. “When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to one day be the No. 1 player in the world, to win Grand Slams”, said the 28-year-old Kerber, who will move up one spot from No. 2 and replace Serena Williams atop the WTA rankings on Monday.
“At the beginning I told my coach Magnus (Norman) before the match I had a feeling”, Wawrinka said. “I’m very proud of it, so this loss today can not overshadow the great moments I have had in Australia and especially in Paris”, he said. I was trying to be tough with myself, trying not to show anything, not to show any pain, not to show any cramp. Later, Djokovic started limping and received more treatment.
Despite losing the first set, Wawrinka’s focus was not shaken, and he went on to win all three remaining sets, claiming the victory in comfortable fashion.
There was a bit of minor controversy for Djokovic, who appeared to be suffering from a cramp at the beginning of the fourth set.
The world number three was match-point down to Britain’s Dan Evans in round three at Flushing Meadows, before fighting his way back to victory.
Not win it. Just get in the draw.
When Djokovic’s final backhand flew long, Wawrinka closed his eyes and looked up to the sky before holding his arms aloft in celebration. “Was it an acute medical condition?”
The world number one, who benefited from a walkover and two retirements on his way to the final, called for the trainer twice, and struggled to keep pace with the superlative tennis from the Swiss third seed.
“The Big Four, I’m really far from them”, he said.
No U.S. player had even reached the final since then, until Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic took the title Sunday.
In reply, Djokovic praised Wawrinka’s resolve. “But every time I step on the court I try to win every match”, said Wawrinka after the match.
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Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 champion, had been seeking a third Slam of the year and 13th Major of his career.
