They took interesting paths to get there, but Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka have set up an intriguing final matchup at the U.S. Open. In six previous Grand Slam showdowns heading into Sunday, Djokovic and Wawrinka have played four five-setters.
Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will be squaring off for the 24th time in their careers when they battle for the U.S. Open title on Sunday afternoon.
Although Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series 19-4, this has to be considered one of the most entertaining matchups in tennis over the past four years. Dating back to the 2013 Australian Open, they have faced each other five times in Grand Slams and four have required fifth sets. The two veterans split a pair of thrillers at the 2013 and 2014 Australian Opens, Djokovic prevailed 6-4 in the fifth in the 2013 U.S. Open semis, and he cruised 6-0 in the fifth last year Down Under before Wawrinka won the 2015 French Open via a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 decision in the final.
Speaking of finals, the third-ranked Swiss is an unbelievable 10-0 in his last 10 matches with a title at stake.
“He’s a big-match player,” Djokovic said of Wawrinka. “He loves to play [on] the big stage against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance; just gets much better. I think he was very close to [losing in the third round] in this tournament and he was struggling with his form, but the last couple of matches he’s (been) getting in that shape that is winning him big matches. I lost to him in (the) finals of French Open and I lost to him in (the) quarterfinals of Australia when he won, as well.”
Wawrinka’s appearance in this final did not seem likely when he lost five of his last 10 matches prior to arriving in New York. Moreover, as Djokovic indicated, the No. 3 seed needed to save a match point against Daniel Evans in the last 32 before surviving 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 6-2. He has also defeated Fernando Verdasco, Alessandro Giannessi, Illya Marchenko, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Kei Nishikori.
Although Wawrinka avoided five-setters in the rest of his matches, no one has enjoyed an easier time in Flushing Meadows than Djokovic. The Serb has benefited from a walkover (from Jiri Vesely) and two retirements (by Mikhail Youzhny and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) in addition to mostly routine victories over Jerzy Janowicz, Kyle Edmund, and Gael Monfils. As such, the jury is still out on Djokovic’s form in the wake of a Wimbledon setback against Sam Querrey and a Rio Olympics loss to Del Potro. The world No. 1 was also nowhere near his best against Monfils on Friday, but the Frenchman turned in a somewhat bizarre performance to cost himself a chance for an upset.
Still, Wawrinka is well aware of what Djokovic is capable of bringing to the table.
“To play Novak it’s always really challenging,” he assured. “We [have] some many big memories together, especially in Grand Slams, so it’s going to be an exctiting match. The secret is simple: I have to play my best tennis; my best game. I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best level 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 Grand Slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have.”
It is also true that Djokovic is vulnerable right now, but at the same time his fortuitous trek through the draw is just what the doctor ordered for a player who had been struggling just a bit physically prior to the tournament. Even though the 12-time major champion showed additional signs of physical issues against Monfils, he is more rested than Wawrinka and should be able to put forth his best showing of the fortnight when it matters most.
Pick: Djokovic in 5
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Stanimal in five
Cant bear the sickly colour red that Stan is sporting. What’s more it clashes badly with his red nose 😀
Cant make up my mind if the Djoker has been faking ‘bad’ to confuse us all and he’ll come out today with all guns firing. I’m also increasingly irritated by his drama queen performances and exaggerated expressions of agonised pain when getting treatment for his various niggling injuries. As for the pretentious ritual for showing his love to the crowd the less said the better 🙁
I can’t stand that magenta color Stan is wearing! Awful! It just happens to be my least favorite color! I don’t think it does anything for Stan!
We will have to wait and see how Novak plays in the final. But he didn’t look to be faking it in his first match. I also think he was definitely struggling with the hot, humid conditions in the semis. The reason I do think something is going on with his shoulder is because of how he has been serving.
tiggy has picked stan! now that’s a jinx as tiggy is a dreadful picker..he’s nearly always wrong.
a lot of people are picking stan and saying that nole is physically impeded…hard to argue with the latter statement..why else has his normally ultra reliable serve gone missing for a while now..?
Rather like the idea that if Stan were to win this, then he would be 3 QRTs of the way to a career GS, and then Murray getting the AO next year, i think it would be fantastic to see all the greats in this era eventually doing the same thing, BTW i want Angie to get the FO and W at some point too, lol i know i dont want much 😉 ….
Hi Ratclif up there waves to you my ethereal friend 😉 ….
Hello alison! Nice to see you here ??
Are you going to be watching this final? ??
“I knew I could fight for three, four, five hours,” he said after the Nishikori match. “I want to make them suffer and that’s what I did against Del Potro and today as well.” Wawrinka
Hi Ratcliff i will try to stay up and watch some of the final, but its the middle of the night where i am, and im back at work tomorrow unfortunatly, i would be happy for either man, as im not concerned about Novak eventually surpassing Rafa, too much talk and hyperbole on you know where is about this player surpassing that player etc, that people forget its just a game to be enjoyed, i hope your well and i left you an e.mail too, enjoyed my break but its time to get back to work and to normal living again i suppose ….
Happy you had a nice break! Have not opened my email but thanks! Enjoy hearing from you and always hope you are well.
Yeah, understand it’s not a good time to watch 😉 And who knows if the tennis will be any good…we’ll soon see 😀
Sort of want Stan to get a US Open. Not sure Nole will allow it! Cheering for a good match…
Djokovic in 4 sets.
Player are on court now.
#BEL13VE
#NoleFam
#LetsDoThis
yep. ajde nole.
Djokovic holds to 30, so far he has served at reasonable speeds 119-122 mph.
Ridiculous D from Nole for 0-15!!!
Djokovic breaks. 2-0
Break Nole!!!!
Idemooo!!!
Terrible start from stan but Djokovic’s ROS is so damn solid.
i see from live scores stan has been broken. bet he’s not pointing at his head right now..
plenty of time for that though..
Djokovic holds to love with 2 aces in the game. 3-0
Nole pretty good out of the blocks!!
Stan holds easily and he is on the board. Djokovic 3-1
Novak looks pretty sharp in the early going.
ESPN commies said that it’s less humid now than it has been over the last few days.
The court quickness allowing Djokovic to rush Stan into errors…Stan must slow things down a little bit…returning second serves from deep behind seems to be an okay idea for now
Stan already with 11 unforced errors comfortable hold for Djokovic puts him 4-1 ahead.