By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, April 24, 2025
Picture credit score: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Fb
Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic has overwhelmed iconic champions on the sport’s best phases.
The Serbian famous person cites a Grand Slam champion who has upstaged stars as arguably essentially the most underrated participant of his technology: Stan Wawrinka.
Chatting with the media at his Mutua Madrid Open presser at this time, Djokovic was requested to mirror on the tenth anniversary of Wawrinka’s well-known four-set upset of the world No. 1 within the 2015 Roland Garros closing.
Djokovic praised his someday observe companion as “an unbelievable participant” who’s “very underestimated within the discussions.”
“[Stan is] an unbelievable participant, somebody I actually admire as an individual as nicely. I feel he is very underestimated within the discussions,” Djokovic advised the media in Madrid at this time. “He is gained [doubles] gold medal Olympics, he is gained three Grand Slams, and, yeah, simply an incredible profession.
“He is 40 years previous, with God is aware of what number of surgical procedures on the knees and every part, and he is nonetheless pushing, nonetheless coming in, nonetheless coming in early within the event. Exhibiting up, one of many first folks that exhibits up within the membership, and practices early, and does every part that he must do, much more. In order that’s tremendous spectacular.”
Whereas tennis followers—and lots of fellow gamers—cite Stan the Man’s sensible one-handed backhand as his best weapon. Djokovic says the sturdy Swiss’ resilience in getting back from a number of surgical procedures—and his pure ardour for play—are two of his best qualities.
“I actually admire him and Andy [Murray] as nicely for that, you recognize, going to the Challenger degree, making an attempt to construct your rankings, making an attempt to get matches,” Djokovic mentioned. “You recognize, I by no means, I imply, I’ve by no means carried out that, by no means was in that place that I’ve to, hopefully needn’t, construct rankings once more again to go to Challenger degree.
“However I actually admire that. That claims so much about champion spirit and mentality that these guys have.”
Trying again on that 2015 French Open closing, Djokovic mentioned initially he was happy he didn’t should face King of Clay Rafa Nadal within the closing—till Wawrinka started blasting winners all around the court docket.
Exuding calm defiance and damaging energy, Wawrinka rode a wave of shotmaking brilliance gorgeous the highest seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to gather his first Roland Garros championship and deny Djokovic the profession Grand Slam again in 2015.
On reflection, Djokovic joked Wawrinka “stole” that Roland Garros closing whereas sporting the funkiest shorts in main Open Period closing historical past—a reality the Serbian says they nonetheless discuss to this present day.
“That was, you recognize, one of many hardest losses for me as a result of by that point I nonetheless have not gained Roland Garros, and that was, I do not know which closing for me already,” Djokovic mentioned at this time. “And I assumed, I am not enjoying Rafa for a change within the finals, and I, you recognize, I favored my probabilities to win my first French Open title.
“However then Stan stole it from me, and he performed some unbelievable tennis. We nonetheless joke round telling that the explanation why he performed so nicely is due to the shorts. I do not know what number of of you do not forget that well-known shorts that he was sporting, and he got here up with the post-finals press convention with that shorts and I actually hated him since then (smiling). However, no, we’re good buddies, in fact I joke.”
Total, Djokovic has had the final giggle within the rivalry, profitable 21 of their 26 conferences, nonetheless a yr after that Roland Garros stunner Wawrinka shocked Djokovic once more in a four-set 2016 US Open closing. That triumph earned Wawrinka his “Stan the Man” moniker from New York Metropolis newspapers.
In a physically-demanding duel, Wawrinka dethroned Djokovic, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3, to seize his first US Open championship in a riveting three hours, 55 minutes.
“There isn’t any secret. If you wish to beat the No. 1 participant on this planet, it’s important to give every part,” Wawrinka, who collected the champion’s examine of $3.5 million, mentioned afterward. “As I mentioned the opposite day, it’s important to settle for to undergo and you’ve got nearly to get pleasure from to undergo. As a result of I feel this Grand Slam was essentially the most painful, bodily and mentally, Grand Slam that I ever performed.”
Earlier than a vocal crowd of 25,051 followers, the 31-year-old Swiss grew to become the oldest US Open champion since a 35-year-old Ken Rosewall captured the 1970 US Open championship.
Wawrinka mentioned he was so nervous earlier than that US Open closing he was shaking and crying within the locker room minutes earlier than strolling out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“At this time, earlier than the ultimate, I used to be actually nervous like by no means earlier than. I used to be shaking within the locker,” Wawrinka mentioned. “Once we begin 5 minutes earlier than the match speaking, previous couple of issues with (coach) Magnus (Norman), I begin to cry. I used to be fully shaking. However the one factor I used to be satisfied with myself that my recreation was there.
“Bodily I used to be there. My recreation was there. Put the struggle on the court docket and you should have an opportunity to win. And that is what occur after few video games after I begin to imagine in myself, begin to be within the match. I used to be solely give attention to the match, not what can occur if I win the match.
“Is it the ultimate of the U.S.? No, I am simply centered what I am doing within the court docket.”
Requested how he was capable of compose himself and play such a powerful match after a tearful breakdown, Wawrinka supplied a easy reply.
“I needed to put my shit collectively,” a smiling Wawrinka replied, evoking laughter from the media in his post-match press convention. “Sorry. That is how I say it.”
