World number one Novak Djokovic came into the final of Roland Garros with wins over Andy Murray, unbeaten on clay this year, and Rafael Nadal, "King of Clay" and nine-time French Open champion. Djokovic was 35-2 on the year and has undoubtedly been playing the best tennis of his life. After finally getting past Rafael Nadal, who was 6-0 against him at the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, the title seemed all but his to lose. It looked like it would finally be the year that Djokovic would complete the Career Grand Slam and win the trophy that he has longed for so many years. 2015 is not the year.
Eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka blasted a massive 60 winners to stun the Serbian and the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier. He played the brilliantly aggressive tennis that won him his first Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open last year, beating Djokovic along the way there as well. Although the underdog, Stan “The Man” came into the final with an incredible upset over compatriot and 2009 champion, Roger Federer in the quarterfinals and a grueling victory over a resurgent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final four. Although many expected Djokovic to take down Wawrinka and complete the Career Grand Slam, the Swiss had other plans in mind.
“My game, when I play my best, I know I can beat any player,” says Wawrinka in his post semifinal press conference.
That is just what he did. From the first set, his game plan to take down the heavy favorite was clear; stay aggressive. He used his one-handed backhand, which many consider to be the best in the world, to go cross-court to open up Djokovic’s forehand side and proceeded to hit explosive backhands down the line for winners. He had an interesting approach to Djokovic’s serve; he blocked back first serves, and moved back several feet so that he could take full swings to return second serves. It worked. Wawrinka had looks in nearly every Djokovic service game.
Djokovic took the first set 6-4, with Wawrinka double faulting to give away his serve at 3-3. Djokovic continued to play the solid, consistent tennis that has dominated the sport throughout the year, running down Wawrinka’s lethal groundstrokes that would have been winners against any other player in the world. However, Wawrinka was still the one dictating play, with most points ending on his racquet.
In the second set, Wawrinka’s first serve- one of the most powerful in tennis, improved and was able to hold his service games more easily. Djokovic seemed content just looping balls back into play, hoping Wawrinka would fold under the pressure of being in just his second grand slam final. He never did. Wawrinka continued to dictate play with his extraordinary groundstrokes, and saw break points in every single Djokovic service game in the set. Djokovic saved all of them until he serving from 4-5, 30-40 down when his backhand went long. Frustrated with conceding the set, he smashed his racquet into the red clay, with the French crowd booing and whistling the hotheaded Serb.
For much of the match, it seemed like a Western vs. Eastern Europe battle, with the French crowd siding with the Swiss Wawrinka. The Serbian Djokovic was booed and whistled after challenging calls, and tends to never receive much love due to his controversial and questionable antics.
The third set was much like the second, with Wawrinka continuing his fabulous play, pushing Djokovic from side to side. Up 3-2, 15-0, Stan blasted 3 consecutive winners to break Djokovic, the crowd roaring. That one break was enough, and Wawrinka cruised to win the set 6-3.
Up two sets to one, it seemed like Wawrinka had a handle on the match, carrying much momentum. However, the eight-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic had different plans, and took advantage of Wawrinka’s letdown to go up 3-0 in the fourth set. The crowd cheered the Serb on for the first time in the match, desiring a fifth set. 1-3 down, Stan played phenomenal defense to win a 32 shot rally to break Djokovic, putting himself back on serve. At 3-3, Wawrinka was up 40-15 on Djokovic’s serve, with two points to seemingly close the lid on the match. However, Djokovic hit two clutch volleys to shut down the Swiss's efforts, and threw up his arms to gain the crowd’s support.
Suffering from disappointment of the missed opportunity, Wawrinka quickly went down 0-40 on his service game, down 3-4. He magically recovered, saving three break points to get to deuce. He then fired off miraculous winners and leveled the set at 4-4, barely climbing out of his deepest hole of the match. With Djokovic suffering from disappointment, he lost his serve after Wawrinka continued to blast spectacular winners with his backhand. Up 5-4, Wawrinka held his nerve and finished off the world No. 1, fittingly hitting a backhand down the line winner.
The 30-year old Wawrinka has now captured two major titles since the beginning of 2014, more than Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray combined. Working with coach Magnus Norman, he has finally gained the belief that he can compete with, and win against the “Big Four” (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray), who have had a stranglehold on the major titles in the past decade; he beat two along the way to his maiden French Open title.
For Djokovic, he has now lost in three of the past four finals at Roland Garros. The more disheartening fact is that the one year that he finally gets past Nadal, who has denied him the title six times, he still fails to lift the trophy in the end. At least he can find solace in the shiny, elegant serving plate that he has just won.
