In the men’s final of the U.S. Open, world number one Novak Djokovic faced Stan Wawrinka for the title.
The Serb had an interesting road to the title match—playing just 13 sets, the lowest total ever, because three of his opponents withdrew from the tournament. And many were wondering if Djokovic would be sharp for the contest.
Wawrinka seemed to be in fine form and was looking to repeat his famous upset over Nole from a year ago, when he beat Djokovic at last the French Open, the only major the Serb did not win in 2015.
A minute’s silence was held in New York on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.
The first set was tight and needed a tiebreak to be settled. Djokovic was the better player in the extra session, losing just one point as he won the set, thanks to some impressive forehand winners.
But the man known as “Stuckey” in some circles was able to get a late break in the second set, moving the Serb around the court and firing a forehand winner as he takes it 6-4, and the players were even at a set apiece.
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns a ball to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's singles final match at the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, the United States, Sept. 11, 2016. Stan Wawrinka 3-1 to claim the title. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
The two-time grand slam winner got an early break in the third, and seemed to be in control—again moving Nole around the court and he got the easy volley winner.
Djoker was able to break back, and was serving to stay in the set, but Stan was able to keep the Serb on the baseline with a couple of slice returns and fire a heavy forehand that Djokovic cannot control, as the Swiss takes the set 7-5 and was on the verge of victory.
In the final set, Wawrinka was able to take a 3-love lead, but Djoker was not right, hobbling around the court. The world number one, who was dealing with a wrist injury, called for a medical time-out in the fourth to get his toe looked at.
That hampered his movement, but Wawrinka was ruthless in the set, and he was able to serve things out when Djoker hit long, to win it in four sets 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. The two players then shared a hug after the match.
Wawrinka is now a three-time major winner, as he adds this trophy to his Aussie and French open titles.
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates after the men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, the United States, Sept. 11, 2016. Stan Wawrinka won 3-1 to claim the title. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
Pair beat French duo of Garcia & Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
In women’s doubles, the team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safaravo was able to beat the top-seeded French pair of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in three-sets 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
