Wawrinka wears down Djoko

Claims first US Open crown, third Grand Slam title

NEW YORK – Mere minutes before heading out to face Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, Stan Wawrinka met in the locker room with his coach and felt as nervous as he ever had. Wawrinka was shaking. Started to cry, even.

Why?

“I don’t want to lose the final in a Grand Slam, that simple. That’s the only reason,” he explained later. “The feeling of: You don’t want to lose. I don’t want to come to the court and lose a final. So close, so far.”

Once he was on the court, and got over some shaky play at the very start, Wawrinka’s game and mindset were strong as can be, as they always seems to be these days when the stakes are highest. Repeatedly pointing his right index finger to his temple, the gesture he uses when showing his mettle, Wawrinka surprisingly wore down No. 1 Djokovic and beat the defending champion, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3, for his first US Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.

“He was the better player. He was tougher mentally,” said Djokovic, offering two of the highest compliments a tennis player can receive from the talented Serb. “He knew what to do.”

The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest US Open men’s champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. He entered Sunday having spent almost exactly twice as much time on court during the tournament – about 18 hours vs. about 9 hours – as Djokovic, who benefited from injuries to three opponents that withdrew before or during matches.

“Honestly, after the match, I was completely empty,” the third-seeded Wawrinka said. “I put everything on the court. Not only today, but the past two weeks.”

By breaking in the final game of the second and third sets, and by saving 14 of 17 break points he faced, Wawrinka already had gained the upper hand by the time Djokovic clutched at his left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth.