Stan Wawrinka: How mental strength helped me win US Open

“My goal is to give everything I have and be the best I can be”, he was quoted as saying by Sport24.

Wawrinka became the first player over 30 to win the Open since Pete Sampras in 2002, and the oldest to win it since Ken Rosewall in 1970. I am me. I have been achieving something that I never expect the last three years, I have been winning three grand slams and it’s more than unbelievable.

Speaking after the final, Wawrinka said: “Honestly after the match I was completely empty”.

Djokovic only played three complete matches before entering the final.

He denied Djokovic a second straight US Open title, and for the third time beat a reigning number one in a major final.

Wawrinka is now three-from-three in Grand Slam finals, having added his US Open crown, to wins in Melbourne and Roland Garros.

An injury to the right shoulder nearly forced the two-time US Open Champion out of the tournament, while broken toenails forced him to get treatment on the sidelines during the final.

“He likes to occasionally whack the ball quite hard, and I don’t think that Novak likes that”, said Wawrinka’s coach, Magnus Norman. All of the rest of his matches in the tournament lasted four sets.

“It’s been a big battle on the court. four hours”, Wawrinka told the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium after defeating No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

This was a replay of the French Open final a year ago.

“It’s not the first time, it’s not the last time I’m going to lose a match”.

He even held his nerve when the final threatened to erupt into controversy after Djokovic twice called medical timeouts in the fourth set. But no matter the circumstances, Wawrinka was still too good for Djokovic.

Along came Novak Djokovic, and suddenly there was a group of stars known as the Big 3, a trio that has won 39 of the past 47 major championships.

Djokovic started limping later and received more toe treatment at the switch before he served down 5-2 in the fourth.

Wawrinka almost was gone before the end of the U.S. Open’s first week, one point from losing in the third round against 64th-ranked Dan Evans.

“He plays best in the big matches and definitely deserves to be mentioned in the mix of top players”, said Djokovic.

The Swiss went pro in 2002, at the age of 17, and during that time won a Grand Slam title – the boys’ singles at the French Open in 2003. “We both felt the demanding match that we played, but he came out on top, he was the better player, tougher mentally”. He had kept his cool and powered through with incredible mental stamina. “But I have them and I’m happy to take the trophy back home”.

The Swiss claimed his only point of the tie-break in an astonishing rally of attack and counter-attack, and his groundstrokes began to flow as he took control of the final in the second set.