Wawrinka beats Djokovic in four sets to win U.S. Open

Sept 11 (Reuters) - Third seed Stan Wawrinka rose to the occasion once again to beat top-seeded defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-7(1) 6-4 7-5 6-3 and win the U.S. Open on Sunday for the third grand slam title of his career. I was suffering on the court.”

He also revealed that he was a mess in the locker room when he was going over match details beforehand with his coach, former tour player Magnus Norman. “It was never a dream because for me it was way too far.”

He said on the court during the trophy ceremony that he was “completely empty.” Wawrinka elaborated on that in his post-match news conference. Patrick McEnroe, commentating in the ESPN box, shared the cynical displeasure of most onlookers when the defending champion, who appeared to be cramping, was granted a dubious medical timeout to have his toes tended to midway through the fourth set, shortly after being broken. “We played almost four hours,” said Djokovic, “and I think I can speak in the name of Stan, as well: We both felt it.”

Wawrinka has won only five of his 24 career meetings against Djokovic, but has now beaten the 12-time major champion on the way to each of his own Grand Slam titles, including in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals and 2015 French Open final. But the only thing I was convinced with myself was my game was there.”

Wawrinka is unbeaten in his last 11 finals, going back to 2014. Stan Wawrinka’s tennis career has been a textbook study of persistence and patience, with his Grand Slam championship success delayed until age 28 and continuing into his 30s. And he did it Sunday by coming back against Djokovic, whose French Open title in June completed a career Grand Slam and made him only the third man — and first in nearly a half-century — to win four consecutive major tournaments. This was the first time since round one Djokovic had not been ahead in sets but more unnerving was that he had lost control, Wawrinka unleashing at will while his opponent was left protesting at his box and smiling in disbelief. US Open champion Stan Wawrinka says this year’s tournament at Flushing Meadows was the toughest Grand Slam of his career and that he accepted he would suffer in order to win in New York. I had to bring everything today.”

Djokovic paid tribute to his opponent after the match. “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.”

With that Djokovic threw his left arm around Wawrinka’s shoulders, knowing which was more up to the task on this day.
In tennis, Swiss Stan Wawrinka defeats Serbian Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim the 2016 US Open men's singles title.