“STAN THE MAN” WAWRINKA TAKES OUT NOVAK DJOKOVIC FOR HIS FIRST U.S. OPEN TENNIS TITLE, HIS THIRD SLAM OF HIS CAREER

Written by: Staff on 12th September 2016

"STAN THE MAN" WAWRINKA TAKES OUT NOVAK DJOKOVIC FOR HIS FIRST U.S. OPEN TENNIS TITLE, HIS THIRD SLAM OF HIS CAREER

epa05535746 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

By Ricky Dimon

When Stan Wawrinka turned 28 years old, he did not own a single major title. Three seasons later, he is within one Wimbledon title of the career Grand Slam.

On the heels of triumphs at the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open, Wawrinka cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer by winning the U.S. Open with a 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 upset of Novak Djokovic on Sunday evening.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland hits a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men’s final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Although Djokovic was a considerable favorite on paper as the world No. 1, Wawrinka’s impressive performance could not have taken anyone by surprise. The third-ranked Swiss is now an unbelievable 11-0 in his last 11 finals and he had showcased that kind of mental strength throughout this tournament. In a third-round thriller against Dan Evans, Wawrinka found himself one point from a four-set defeat before recovering to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 6-2. He also survived tough four-setters against Illya Marchenko, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Kei Nishikori in consecutive matches.

“This is amazing, for sure,” Wawrinka said. “Amazing two weeks. I [spent] so much time on the court. Today I knew it [would] be a really tough battle again playing the No. 1 player who always [pushes] you to play your best tennis if you want to beat him…. (It) was not only in the tennis side but physically and mentally was really tough. Honestly after the match I was completely empty. I put everything on the court; not only today, but the past two weeks.”

The No. 3 seed may not have been the best player from start to finish this fortnight, but he was without question the most clutch. Against Djokovic, for example, Wawrinka won a dominant 20 of 27 points on which one of the two players had a chance to break serve; he saved 14 of 17 and converted six of 10.

That was the main reason why Djokovic, during the trophy ceremony, called his opponent the more courageous player.

“Simple as that,” the 12-time major champion added during his press conference. “I just didn’t capitalize at all on my opportunities. I had plenty of them; break points. It was a terrible conversion of the break points. Just terrible from my side.

“In the matches like this, if you don’t use the opportunities, the other guy comes and takes it. And that’s what he did. That’s why I said he was more courageous, because he stepped in and played aggressive [whereas] I was kind of more waiting for things to happen. And that’s it.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia has toes on both feet bandaged during a medical timeout as he plays Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the men’s final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/VINCENT LAFORET

By the fourth set, Djokovic was almost helpless amidst Wawrinka’s punishing groundstrokes. A foot injury, for which Djokovic took a medical timeout down 3-1 in what proved to be the final set, certainly did not help his cause. Moving gingerly, the top seed saw 12 winners whiz past him in the fourth and 30 of Wawrinka’s 46 total winners came in the last two sets.

Djokovic bounced back after seeing the trainer to make a decent push to get back on serve, but he was unable to do so. It ended after three hours and 54 minutes when he sent a backhand well long with Wawrinka serving at 5-3, ad-in.

As for Wawrinka, physical issues reared their ugly head only before taking the court.

“Today, before the final, I was really nervous like never before,” he admitted. “I was shaking in the locker (room). When [Magnus Norman and I were talking] five minutes before the match, I [started] to cry. I was completely shaking. But the only thing I was convinced with myself (was) that my game was there. Physically I was there. Put the fight on the court and you will have a chance to win.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

10sBalls Editors Note: It was a long hot and HUMID and exhausting few weeks. But we are glad to have witnessed such awesome tennis. Lovey Jergens was right on with all of her final outcomes. And Stan almost did it in three.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland (R) during the trophy ceremony after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) during the men’s final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2016 US Open, Atp World Tour, Flushing Meadows, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Stan The Man, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis News, US Open final, US Open tennis, Wawrinka vs Djokovic