| Advertisement |
NEW YORK -- Stan Wawrinka has won as many Grand Slam titles since 2014 as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray combined: two. Yet he has somehow been excluded from the so-called "Big Four" of men's tennis, the group that also includes world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Advertisement
In both of Wawrinka's championship runs in majors - at the 2015 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open -- the Swiss beat Djokovic along the way.
Now he will try to do it for a third time to earn his third major title.
No. 3 Wawrinka will face No. 1 Djokovic for the U.S. Open championship on Sunday afternoon after both men won their semifinal matches on Friday before a crowd of 23,771 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Wawrinka, it must be noted, has won his last 10 finals, although he has been on the court nine hours longer than Djokovic so far in this tournament.
"I lost to him in finals of French Open and I lost to him in quarterfinals of Australia when he won, as well," Djokovic said after dispatching No. 10 Gael Monfils, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, under extremely hot and humid conditions in a bizarre match that was circus-like at times.
"Both of these Grand Slam trophies that he has he won against me on the way. So I know right now, having two Grand Slam titles and (an) Olympic medal and Davis Cup under his belt, he believes in himself more. He doesn't get too stressed by the bigger occasion. He actually likes playing in big matches."
Djokovic, the defending U.S. Open champion, is 19-4 all-time against Wawrinka, who took out No. 6 Kei Nishikori, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2, in the second semifinal in 3 hours, 8 minutes. Djokovic leads Wawrinka 4-2 in majors, with four of those six encounters going the full five sets.
"I'm really excited, I'm really happy," Wawrinka said. "I want to enjoy also that moment. I watched the final so many times here, Roger, Novak, Rafa, they are amazing champions. To play against Novak again in the final is going to be something special. I'm always ready when I'm happy on the court so let's see what's going to happen."
Djokovic, 29, will be seeking his 13th career Grand Slam title and third of 2016, having already won the Australian and French Open crowns. The Serbian star has now reached the finals in 19 of the last 24 Grand Slam events, and appears to have clearly separated himself from the other members of the "Big Four" -- all of whom were out of the Open before the semifinals. (Federer did not enter while he rehabs a bad knee.)
Now Djokovic gets the big-hitting Wawrinka, who roared back from losing the first set to Nishikori -- who was coming off a taxing five-set victory over No. 2 Murray in the quarterfinals.
"He loves to play in the big stage against big players, because that's when he elevates his level of performance in his game," Djokovic said of Wawrinka. "Just gets much better.
"He's very powerful, powerful player. Big serve. Probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. You know, he can play it all. You know, he has that variety in his game. He can be very dangerous for everybody."
