ATP US Open: Inspired Stan Wawrinka dethrones troubled Novak Djokovic
Facing each other for the first time since the US Open final in 2016, Stan Wawrinka toppled the defending champion and world no. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 before the Serb had to retire due to a shoulder injury. Novak wasn't at his best already at the first practice in New York but he managed to win three matches somehow before facing a former champion who knows how to play big encounters against the most significant rivals, scoring already the fourth victory versus Novak at Majors. Stan served at only 54% but there was nothing wrong with his initial shot, fending off four out of five break chances offered to Novak and delivering four breaks that kept him in front before the Serb decided he has had enough.
Wawrinka defended break points in games four and six in the opening set and stole Novak's serve in the game between when the defending champion netted a backhand to find himself behind. Serving for the set at 5-4, Wawrinka blasted a service winner to seal the opener, finding himself 3-0 down in set number two after the only break for Novak that gave his fans something to cheer about. Nonetheless, Stan started to hit like there's no tomorrow, pulling the break back in game seven after a forehand error from Djokovic and firing three service winners in the next game to level the score at 4-4.
There was no way back for Novak from there, saving a break point in game nine before Wawrinka broke him at 15 in game 11 with some incredible hitting, taking 12 of the last 15 points to close the set after a weak drop shot from Djokovic in game 12. Serving at 1-1 in the third set, Djokovic hit a double fault to suffer a break at love, deciding to retire and sending Stan into the second Grand Slam quarter-final of the season after Roland Garros, losing almost 2000 points and offering Nadal a chance to close the gap to him at the top of the ATP ranking list.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/34hsITl
No comments