The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsStan Wawrinka has won his first US Open title, as the Swiss recovered from a set down to beat defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-7 6-4 7-5 6-3. Djokovic controlled the early parts of the match and easily clinched the first set on a tiebreak, but Wawrinka hit back with a brutal display of shot-making to edge the following two sets before outlasting his tiring opponent in the fourth to clinch an exhilarating victory.
In the opening set, as expected Djokovic was at times forced to absorb Wawrinka’s relentless hitting but the Swiss made a series of errors which allowed the world number one to seize the early break. Djokovic easily consolidated the advantage to go 3-0 ahead, and continued to produce a solid display whilst Wawrinka was struggling for consistency. However, the Swiss did well to hold off his opponent and reduce the deficit to a single break, relying on his powerful groundstrokes to survive. The world number one was denied another break at 5-2 when Wawrinka held after saving set points, and Djokovic was unable to close out the set at 5-3 in the following game as a double fault gifted Wawrinka the break back. The Swiss levelled the scoreline at 5-5 but both players then held their next service games comfortably to force a tie-break. In the tie-break, a series of pulsating rallies ensued as Djokovic withstood an early barrage of heavy hitting from his opponent, before responding with an incredible backhand passing shot winner down the line whilst on the full stretch to move 3-1 ahead. The world number one ruthlessly grabbed the momentum and he went on to dominate the tiebreak thereafter as Wawrinka faded with a series of costly errors, blazing a forehand return wide to give Djokovic the first set.
As the second set unfolded, both players held their first few service games, as Wawrinka continued to be aggressive whilst Djokovic did well to keep his opponent at bay. However, the Serbian was beginning to feel the pressure of Wawrinka’s power in the baseline rallies and at 2-1 up, the Swiss broke Djokovic in style by crushing a fierce backhand winner down the line. Even though Wawrinka’s erratic play gifted the Serbian break points to immediately hit back, the Swiss raised his level and a combination of powerful serves and bludgeoning groundstrokes saw him eventually survive to hold for a 4-1 lead. Djokovic though refused to lie down and held his serve, before retrieving the break back when Wawrinka pushed a forehand wide. The world number one quickly levelled the scoreline at 4-4 but the Swiss steadied himself and swiftly moved 5-4 ahead. As Djokovic served to stay in the set in the following game, the world number one became hesitant and Wawrinka took advantage, using an unstoppable combination of power and depth to force set points. Even though Djokovic saved one, Wawrinka took the second and secured the set when his opponent sprayed a forehand wide, to level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Djokovic created break points in the first game of the set, but Wawrinka erased them all with intelligent serving and more brutal shot-making to eventually cling onto his serve. The Swiss then looked to ruthlessly punish his opponent in the following game as he belted a forehand passing shot winner to set up a break point, and the Swiss converted it when Djokovic pushed a volley wide. The world number one though managed to force his opponent into another testing game as Wawrinka tried to consolidate the break and despite Djokovic holding a break point, the Swiss once again showed incredible resilience to stave off the pressure, before firing a backhand passing shot winner cross court beyond Djokovic to hold serve for a 3-0 lead. But, as Wawrinka served to keep his advantage in tact at 3-1 up, the Swiss let game points slip and eventually the pressure from Djokovic was too much as the world number one finally capitalised on an opportunity to retrieve the break back. Djokovic levelled the scoreline at 3-3 but both players would match each other by holding their next couple of service games with relative ease, as the set seemed destined for another tiebreak. But, as Djokovic served to stay in the set at 6-5 down, a series of uncharacteristic errors from the backhand side of the world number one eventually presented a set point for Wawrinka and the Swiss seized the opportunity, pummelling a forehand down the line that Djokovic could not scramble back into play, to take a two set to one lead.
The fourth set saw Wawrinka reel off sensational winners to hold his serve and the immense power and strong shot-making from the Swiss was beginning to physically break down Djokovic. With his opponent visibly suffering with cramp, Wawrinka showed no mercy as an inch perfect backhand winner set up a break point for the Swiss, which he took after outlasting Djokovic in a gruelling rally. Wawrinka emphatically consolidated the break to forge 3-0 ahead, and threatened to strike again in the following game, but Djokovic battled on to hold his serve before receiving medical attention for what appeared to be a toe injury. However, with Wawrinka serving at 3-1 up, the world number one was remarkably able to push his opponent and even held chances to break back, but Djokovic was unable to take them as Wawrinka held off the stern challenge to hold serve and build a 4-1 lead. The Serbian did well to fight on despite the pain, as he reduced the deficit and forced his opponent to close out the match. But, Wawrinka was ultimately too strong and he wrapped up the win when Djokovic placed a backhand wide to seal his first major trophy at Flushing Meadows.
With this victory, Wawrinka has now won three grand slam titles, adding to his Australian Open win in 2014 and his French Open success in 2015. Also, the Swiss remains unbeaten in major finals.
On the women’s side, Angelique Kerber cemented her status as the new world number one, as the German claimed her first US Open title and second grand slam trophy of the year with a hard fought 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory over Karolina Pliskova. Kerber has now played in three of the four grand slam finals this year, winning two in Australia and in New York but losing one at Wimbledon.
In addition, there was some British success as Jamie Murray and his Brazilian partner Bruno Soares clinched the US Open doubles title after easing past the Spanish pairing of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 6-3.
