Rivalries Of 2015: Djokovic vs. Wawrinka

Continuing our Season In Review Series, ATPWorldTour.com revisits the fiercest rivalries of 2015. Today we feature Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka:

Novak Djokovic may have claimed three of four FedEx ATP Head2Head match-ups with Stan Wawrinka in 2015, but the Swiss proved anything but a pushover. In their first meeting, Wawrinka extended the World No. 1 to five sets at the Australian Open — the third straight year they went the distance at Melbourne Park. Though the semi-final would feature a combined 118 unforced errors and 12 service breaks, Wawrinka out-aced his opponent 10-5 and collected 42 winners to 27.

Then, at Roland Garros, Wawrinka would pull off a historic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 upset.

Despite the fact that Wawrinka kept him from completing both a calendar year and career Slam, Djokovic says it’s a friendship unlike any other.

“I feel like I have a very special relationship with Stan, I think like no other top player, honestly,” he said. “I do appreciate that. I do enjoy that good relationship we have. I think that was strengthened even more after the Roland Garros final.”

It was the second time Wawrinka had defeated the Serb on his way to a Grand Slam title.

“This one is really special, for sure, playing Novak here in final, the No. 1 player,” said Wawrinka. “He won almost everything since the beginning of the year. And especially the way I played and the way I finished the match.”

“Of course it was probably the biggest win he ever had and it was disappointing for me to lose that, but I felt like we had that special connection in the end,” Djokovic said. “Look, at the end of the day, we are friends, we are people. Of course we both want to win. When we get on the court, it’s all about business and getting the job done. You do everything that you can to win. But once the match is over, I mean, why not share some nice moments and joke around?”

Djokovic took the next two matches against Wawrinka, in the Cincinnati quarter-finals and Paris semi-finals, upping his FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage to 19-4 overall.

Djokovic vs. Wawrinka: 2015 Meetings

Djokovic vs. Wawrinka FedEx ATP Head2Head