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.

The 31-year-old Swiss, who defeated Djokovic on his way to winning the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open, denied the world number one a third grand slam title this year following his wins in Australia and France. </s> Just like Karolina Pliskova, who lost in the women’s final, Stan Wawrinka was one point away from exiting the U.S. Open long before championship weekend.

Again, like Pliskova, Wawrinka used his versatile survival skills to wiggle out of the predicament and fought off match point by forcing the issue. It was the middle weekend of the Open and Wawrinka faced match point in the fourth-set tiebreaker against the lightly regarded Dan Evans of Britain. Wawrinka got to the net and erased the match point with a forehand volley.

That’s how fine a line it is in professional tennis.

Wawrinka, 31, could have been on a beach somewhere this weekend, lamenting the third-round loss. Instead he will face No. 1-seeded and defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles final Sunday. Wawrinka, seeded third, is aiming for his third Grand Slam singles championship and Djokovic is attempting to win No. 13, which would break a tie with Roy Emerson for fourth all time.

“The secret is simple,” Wawrinka said. “I have to play my best tennis, my best game. He’s the No. 1 player, amazing fighter. But I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best tennis 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 a Grand Slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have.”

Wawrinka is exceedingly dangerous when he reaches the final. He is 10-0 in tournament finals since 2014.

Said Djokovic: “He is a big-match player. He loves to play in the big stage against big players because that’s when he elevates his level of performance in his game. Just gets much better.”

This will be Djokovic’s seventh U.S. Open final — he’s won twice — and he holds a 19-4 career record against Wawrinka. Wawrinka beat him to win the French Open in 2015 and they had an epic battle at the Australian Open in 2013 with Djokovic winning, 12-10, in the fifth set.

There have been occasional interlopers among the big four of men’s tennis: Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Since the 2005 French Open, they’ve been responsible for 42 of 46 Grand Slam tournament titles.

By winning two Slams and a shot at a third major, Wawrinka is on the verge of transforming from a mere interloper to fifth member of the band. He was once firmly fixed in the shadow of his Swiss countryman, Federer.

Of course, who hasn’t been in Federer’s shadow at one time?

“He’s a very powerful, powerful player,” Djokovic said of Wawrinka. “Big serve. Probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. You know, he can play it all. He has that variety in his game. He can be very dangerous for everybody.” </s> Stan Wawrinka clinched his third grand slam title by blasting out Novak Djokovic to win the US Open.

Wawrinka had demolished Djokovic in the French Open final last year and he pulled off a similar display of destruction at Flushing Meadows to win 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 7-5 6-3.

Djokovic struggled physically in the final set and took a controversial time-out before Wawrinka's serve, but the Swiss held firm in Arthur Ashe Stadium to seal a dramatic victory.
• Angelique Kerber wins US Open women's singles title with three-set victory over Karolina Pliskova
• Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares win US Open men's doubles in straight sets

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We're also on Facebook/mirrorfootball - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Mirror Online. </s> Stan Wawrinka clinched his third grand slam title by blasting out Novak Djokovic to win the US Open.

Wawrinka had demolished Djokovic in the French Open final last year and he pulled off a similar display of destruction at Flushing Meadows to win 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 7-5 6-3.

Djokovic struggled physically in the final set and took a controversial time-out before Wawrinka's serve, but the Swiss held firm in Arthur Ashe Stadium to seal a dramatic victory.

When Djokovic's final backhand flew long, Wawrinka closed his eyes and looked up to the sky before holding his arms aloft in celebration.

At 31 years old, he becomes only the fifth man in the Open era to win more than one major tournament after turning 30, following Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors in achieving the feat.

Wawrinka ousted Djokovic en route to winning both the Australian Open in 2014 and French Open last year, and he proved his class again here to deny the Serb a 13th grand slam success of his own.

The world number three had been match point down against Britain's Dan Evans in the third round but he grew into the tournament and now stands one Wimbledon title away from completing a career grand slam.

"This is honestly amazing," Wawrinka said. "I came here without expecting to win it but every time I step on the court I tried to win.

"I played a lot of tennis these two weeks. I am completely empty. I had to bring everything I had today against Novak.

"There was so much emotion with the crowd and the atmosphere, this is something I never had before. It has been an amazing night again."

Djokovic, a beneficiary of three retirements in New York, had spent almost nine hours fewer on court than Wawrinka, but injuries have also blighted his progress and they caught up with him at the very end.

He took a medical time-out before Wawrinka's serve in the fourth, which angered his opponent, although there appeared no lingering bad feeling at the finish as the pair shared a warm embrace.

"Congratulations to Stan and his team," Djokovic said. "This has been absolutely deserved.

"Today you were the more courageous player in the decisive moments. You are a great champion and deserved to win this title."

Despite Djokovic's physical issues, Wawrinka was a convincing champion. He hit 46 winners, broke Djokovic's serve six times and became the first ever player to beat the top seed at the US Open after losing the first set.

He took time to get going as Djokovic broke first and raced 5-2 clear but the Serb spurned two set points and then the momentum shifted.

Finding his rhythm, Wawrinka broke back via a Djokovic double fault and after trailing for most of the opening hour, the Swiss had himself a tie-break.

He won what must have been the point of the tournament, a 19-shot rally that included two drop-volleys, one half-volley, one lob, one attempted pass and finally a Wawrinka volley-winner. The crowd leapt up for a standing ovation.

Djokovic lost that exchange but won all the others as a long Wawrinka forehand secured him the opening set.

Wawrinka, however, had found his groove and after breaking once with a trademark backhand, cannoned down the line, he did so again at 5-4 to snatch the second and level up.

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.

Wawrinka broke for 3-0 in the third and while his golden spell dimmed enough for Djokovic to stay in touch, he broke again at 6-5, pointing his finger to his temple as he moved up two sets to one.

While Wawrinka had signalled his mental toughness, Djokovic was now struggling physically as he pulled up with pain in his left leg at the start of the fourth.

Wawrinka showed no mercy, breaking for 2-0 and holding for three, as a hobbling Djokovic walked his way through the game and barely put up a fight.

He took ice on his legs at the changeover and then could hardly serve, producing two double faults in the next game, yet saving break point to hold.

Umpire Ali Nili then granted Djokovic a six-minute medical time-out to take treatment on his feet and before the serve of Wawrinka, who made his irritation clear to both umpire and opponent.

Djokovic even apologised to Wawrinka but the tension was palpable when play resumed, as a sprightly Djokovic earned three break points but failed to capitalise.

Instead it was left to Wawrinka to serve out at 5-3. On his first match point, he dumped his forehand in the net but on the second, Djokovic fired long and after three hours and 55 minutes, his victory was complete. </s> 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. Speaking at a news conference following his victory over world number Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka says he gave everything in the final. Djokovic meanwhile accepts that he lost his nerve after taking the opening set
• Stan Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic in four sets to take first US Open title </s> HIGHLIGHTS-Tennis-Day 14 at the U.S. Open

Sept 11 (Reuters) - Latest news from the 14th day of the U.S. Open tennis championships on Sunday (all times GMT):

Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. and Czech Lucie Safarova, the 12th seeds, battled back from a set and break down to oust top-seeded French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 to clinch the women's doubles title.

The final day of the 2016 U.S. Open began with the women's doubles final at Flushing Meadows.

Aggressive style almost pays off for runner-up Pliskova

Kerber begins reign as number one with U.S. Open win

1-Caroline Garcia (France) and Kristina Mladenovic (France) v 12-Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) and Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic)

Not before 2000GMT/4 PM ET

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 3-Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) (Compiled by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Both) </s> Defending champion Novak Djokovic claimed his fifth Wimbledon title on Sunday beating eight-time champion Roger Federer 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3) in the longest ever final and settled by an historic tie-break.

 The 32-year-old Serbian saved two match points as he took his Grand Slam tally to 16, four off Federer’s overall record.

 Djokovic’s victory extends to 11 successive Grand Slams won by the big three, himself, Federer and Rafael Nadal.

 At 4 hours and 57 minutes it was the longest final at Wimbledon.

 Stan Wawrinka was the last player outside the trio to win a Grand Slam, the 2016 US Open beating Djokovic.

 The last player to win a Grand Slam aged under 30 was Andy Murray, who won the 2016 Wimbledon title aged 29. </s> Novak Djokovic has become the first player to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles with a straight-sets win over Roger Federer in the final of Cincinnati Open.

The Serbian needed one hour and 24 minutes to secure a 6-4 6-4 victory and finally claim the trophy in his sixth final in Ohio - losing three previous deciders to Federer.

Djokovic converted on three of six break points to end Federer's streak of seven wins from as many finals at the main lead-up tournament to the US Open. </s> Roger Federer is one victory away from a ninth Wimbledon title. Four-time champion Novak Djokovic is standing in the way. Federer and Djokovic will meet in the men's final at the All England Club for the third time. Djokovic won both of those previous matchups, in 2014 and 2015. Federer did get the better of Djokovic at Wimbledon on Centre Court once, beating the Serb in the semifinals in 2012. Federer, who is 37, is going for his 21st major title, while Djokovic, 32, is eyeing his 16th. Djokovic leads their head-to-head series 25-22, including 9-6 at Grand Slam tournaments.

Switzerland's Roger Federer returns to Spain's Rafael Nadal in a Men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (Adrian Dennis/Pool Photo via AP)

3 - Unforced errors made by Simona Halep, the fewest on record in a Wimbledon final.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The day I stop fighting for equality and for people that look like you and me will be the day I'm in my grave." - Serena Williams, responding to a reporter's question at her post-match news conference.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in a Men's singles semifinal match on day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2019. (Andy Rain/Pool Photo via AP)

Romania's Simona Halep poses with the trophy after defeating United States' Serena Williams during the women's singles final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

United States' Serena Williams reacts after losing a point to Romania's Simona Halep, background right, during the women's singles final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
In tennis, Swiss Stan Wawrinka defeats Serbian Novak Djokovic in four sets to claim the 2016 US Open men's singles title.