Stan Wawrinka Powers His Way to French Open Title
Paris (AP) — Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, Sunday afternoon to lift the Coupes des Mousquetaires, winning his first French Open championship and second career major.
Wawrinka ripped a backhand winner up the line on his second championship point to defeat the World No. 1 in front of a packed Philippe Chatrier Stadium. The winner was number 60 of the match for the Swiss.
Jun 5, 2015; Paris, France; Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) celebrates recording match point in his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) on day 13 of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Late in the third set, Wawrinka showed off his incredible level of play with a backhand winner through about two feet of space between the net post and a box sitting alongside the court. His level was simply unconscious on his groundstrokes as well as on his serve.
Wawrinka served nine aces including a near miss on his first championship point, which prompted a second serve. Djokovic pressed the Swiss on a break point in the game, but the Serb sent a backhand shot wide on his lone chance.
After Wawrinka fell down 3-0 in the fourth set, it looked like Djokovic was going to find his footing and push the match to a decisive fifth set. He looked similar to the player who blew out Murray in the fifth set the day before, yet Wawrinka continued to grind and won three games in a row to tie it up. “I knew he was still mentally struggling, so I focused on my game and continued to play,” Wawrinka stated.
Still in the fourth set, after Djokovic held to go up 4-3, he raced to a 0-40 lead with three break chances in the Swiss’s service game. However, Wawrinka fought back to hold and from there was too confident to overcome.
“I played my best tennis today. It was amazing, amazing, and when you play the No. 1 you have to do that. I tried to play really hard and make him feel uncomfortable.”
Djokovic started out the match strong and played a sensible first set; he earned nearly 80 percent of his first serves in the set. The Serb looked in command and was finding the shots he wanted and winning the bigger points when it mattered. Djokovic earned the break on his first chance and served out to take the first set six games to four.
“It was not easy at the beginning and he looking more fresh. After my match on Friday it was tough to get started, but I started to settle in after a couple of long rallies,” Wawrinka said.
The Swiss No. 2 did not allow this to phase him as he continued to fight. Djokovic’s first serve percentage dipped and Wawrinka found his way into nearly every service game finally breaking in the ninth game of the set. He stayed steady around 67 percent on his first serves, actually finishing higher than Djokovic’s 65 percent.
After holding to win the set, Wawrinka started out the third set with a hold. He began to look confident and stayed consistent while looking like he belonged on the court.
“He played much more aggressive and courageous tennis today,” Djokovic exclaimed. “He came up with much more important shots in the bigger moments.”
Both men shared an incredible moment immediately after the match at the net. Wawrinka continued over to Djokovic to give him a hug upon returning to court after he celebrated in his box with his team.
The title is only the second French Open championship in the past 11 years not won by Rafael Nadal. In 2009, Swiss Roger Federer took advantage of a Nadal loss to Swede Robin Soderling to finally win the elusive title and this year Wawrinka did the same.
“I worked really hard and [I have] an incredible team around me,” Wawrinka explained.
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