U.S. OPEN TENNIS 2016 RICKY DIMON’S PICK AND PREVIEW FOR THE MEN’S (ATP) FINAL: NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. STAN WAWRINKA

Written by: Staff on 10th September 2016

U.S. OPEN TENNIS 2016 RICKY DIMON'S PICK AND PREVIEW FOR THE MEN'S (ATP) FINAL: NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. STAN WAWRINKA

epa05532561 Gael Monfils of France serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will be facing each other for the 24th time in their careers when they meet against in the U.S. Open final on Sunday afternoon. Although Djokovic owns the head-to-head series 19-4, this has to be considered one of the most entertaining matchups in tennis over the past four seasons.

Dating back to the 2013 Australian Open, they have squared off five times in Grand Slams and four have required fifth sets. Djokovic and Wawrinka split a pair of thrillers at the 2013 and 2014 Australian Opens, the Serb prevailed 6-4 in the fifth in the 2013 U.S. Open semifinals, and he coasted 6-0 in the fifth last year Down Under before Wawrinka won the 2015 French Open via a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 decision in the title match.

Speaking of finals, the world No. 3 is an amazing 10-0 in his last 10 matches with a title at stake.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland reacts as he plays Kei Nishikori of Japan during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/DANIEL MURPHY

“He’s a big-match player,” Djokovic said of Wawrinka. “He loves to play [on] the big stage against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance; just gets much better. I think he was very close to [losing in the third round] in this tournament and he was struggling with his form, but the last couple of matches he’s (been) getting in that shape that is winning him big matches. I lost to him in (the) finals of French Open and I lost to him in (the) quarterfinals of Australia when he won, as well.”

Wawrinka’s appearance in this championship match did not seem likely when he lost five of his last 10 matches prior to arriving in New York City. Moreover, as Djokovic indicated, the Swiss needed to fight off a match point against Dan Evans in the last 32 before surviving 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 6-2. He has also taken out Fernando Verdasco, Alessandro Giannessi, Illya Marchenko, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Kei Nishikori.

Although Wawrinka avoided five-setters in the rest of his contests, no one has enjoyed an easier time in Flushing Meadows than Djokovic. The top seed has benefited from a walkover (Jiri Vesely) and two retirements (Mikhail Youzhny and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) in addition to mostly routine wins over Jerzy Janowicz, Kyle Edmund, and Gael Monfils. As such, the jury is still out on Djokovic’s form in the wake of a Wimbledon loss to Sam Querrey and a Rio Olympics setback at the hands of Del Potro. He was also nowhere near his best against Monfils on Friday, but the Frenchman turned in a bizarre performance to cost himself a chance at an upset.

Still, Wawrinka is well aware of what Djokovic is capable of showcasing.

“To play Novak it’s always really challenging,” he commented. “We [have] some many big memories together, especially in Grand Slams, so it’s going to be an exctiting match. The secret is simple: I have to play my best tennis; my best game. I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best level I can beat him. Hopefully I can bring that Sunday. But it’s the biggest challenge; when you play Novak, the No. 1 player in the final of Grand Slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Gael Monfils of France during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

It is also true that Djokovic is vulnerable at the moment, but at the same time his fortuitous trek through the draw is just what the doctor ordered for a man who had been struggling just a bit physically prior to the tournament. Even though the 12-time slam champion showed additional signs of physical issues against Monfils, he is more rested than Wawrinka and should be able to put forth his best showing of the fortnight when it matters most.

Pick: Djokovic in 5