STAN WAWRINKA CONQUERS PAIN, DJOKOVIC FOR US OPEN TITLE
31-year-old Swiss beats Djokovic in a Major final for the third time to be the oldest US Open champion
NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka became the oldest US Open men’s champion in 46 years when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic to claim a third Grand Slam title on Sunday.
The oldest winner of the men’s tournament since 35-yearold Ken Rosewall in 1970 said a taste for pain helped him to victory and admitted he was shaking and at one point burst into tears before the match.
Wawrinka, seeded third, triumphed 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 after almost four hours of high intensity tennis.
It was Wawrinka’s first New York title, following his breakthrough 2014 Australian Open triumph and 2015 Roland Garros crown.
On both those occasions, Djokovic had been the fall-guy, losing in Melbourne in the quarter-finals and ending as runner-up in Paris.
“If you want to beat the No. 1 player in the world, you have to give everything,” said Wawrinka who has won his last 11 finals.
MEDICAL TIMEOUT
But the 29-year-old Serb finished runner-up in New York for the fourth time after paying a heavy price for converting just three of 17 break points.
Wawrinka, who had to save a match point to beat unheralded Dan Evans in the third round, committed 51 unforced errors but crucially smashed 46 winners past his opponent.
“Stan, you absolutely deserved to win. You were the more courageous player in the decisive moment and you deserve this title,” said Djokovic. “You came out on top, you were the better player, tougher mentally.” PERSEVERANCE Wawrinka emerged from the shadow of superstar compatriot Federer with his Australian Open triumph in 2014.
With the win in his first Grand Slam final the then-28-year-old supplanted Roger Federer at the top-ranked Swiss player.
Wawrinka backed up that breakthrough with a victory over Djokovic in last year’s French Open final.
With an elegant one-handed backhand and bullish refusal ever to back down Wawrinka has established himself as one of the biggest threats on the game’s biggest stages.
Tattooed on his left forearm are the words of Irish poet Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
And Wawrinka’s late-career success is his reward for years of perseverance.
He lost 14 times in a row before triumphing over Djokovic en route to his Australian Open title.
He went a dozen matches without taking a set off Rafa Nadal until beating him in that championship match.
In reaching his first US Open final -- after semi-final exits in 2013 and 2015 -- Wawrinka had saved a match point in a gritty five-set win over unheralded Dan Evans, held off 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro in four and rallied for a four-set win over 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori.