Tennis News

Sunday, June 7 was supposed to be the day that many would remember as the one where Novak Djokovic became the eighth payer in tennis history to accomplish the Career Grand Slam. However, while the stars were aligned for his eventual success, few accounted for the Swiss star who would alter the Serb’s plans in shocking fashion.

Wawrinka dominated the contest following the opening set, as he fired shots through Djokovic and outplayed the Serbian star en route to a emphatic four-set win at Roland Garros. He rallied from a set down to defeat the top seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

“He played some really good tactical tennis and also very aggressive shots in some breakpoints, like when it was 4-4, that passing shot winner down the line…all I can say is, ‘well done’; he deserves it,”

“You go through emotions when you are playing for the title. 3-0 up, I wasted some chances and he started getting more confident; he started going for his shots.”

Djokovic has a particularly sour memory of the fourth set, where he held a significant lead before allowing Wawrinka back into the contest.

“You know, you go through emotions, you get frustrated, you come back. All in all, may be that was the turning point. After that, I did try to comeback. I did try to fight up to the last point, to the last ball, but it wasn’t that day.”

However, while Djokovic was clearly disappointed with his loss on Sunday, he made it clear that his ambition to win the French Open did not overshadow the ambitions of all the other players in the draw. He did admit to being more nervous than any other final beforehand, though.

“As I said, you go through emotions. Of course I was nervous than any other match. It’s final of Roland Garros. We both were aware of the importance of this match, and that’s why you tend to have these particular situations.”

In one of the more surprising results this season, Swiss No. 2 Stan Wawrinka played the match of his life on Sunday afternoon in Paris to defeat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in four sets to lift his second Grand Slam title.

In a match that was believed to be Djokovic’s to lose, Wawrinka dominated the contest following the opening set, as he fired shots through Djokovic and outplayed the Serbian star en route to a emphatic four-set win at Roland Garros. He rallied from a set down to defeat the top seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

“I’m still surprised that in two months I can win the French Open because I wasn’t in good shape after Monaco [in April]. It was a tough, tough moment for me. To say that now I won the French Open, it’s something completely crazy.”

During the post-match trophy ceremony, Djokovic enjoyed a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd, which moved him to tears. He has now lost three French Open finals, 2012, 2014 and 2015. He will have to wait one more year to become the eighth person to complete the career Grand Slam.

With regards to his unique shorts, Wawrinka found it endlessly amusing that the shorts that most hated during the fortnight were the ones that won him the French Open.

“I don’t think they will allow me to wear the shorts at Wimbledon,” Wawrinka joked. “Everybody has talked about the shorts since I put them on. I quite like them but apparently I’m the only one. I know a lot of people have talked about them and it’s quite funny that they won the French Open.”