Stan Wawrinka Stun Novak Djokovic To Win French Open

Novak Djokovic’s quest for a career Grand Slam at the French Open was sensationally ended as Stan Wawrinka claimed a pulsating win

Stan Wawrinka produced a stunning fightback to claim his second grand slam title in the French Open final with a magnificent four-set victory over world number one Novak Djokovic.

After seeing off defending champion Rafael Nadal and coming through a five-set semi-final with Andy Murray, Djokovic was the heavy favourite to seal a career Grand Slam by winning at Roland Garros for the first time.
However, Wawrinka ” who had knocked out Roger Federer and home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on his way to the final ” recovered superbly after losing the first set and even managed to come back from a break down in the fourth to claim a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 triumph.

Djokovic appeared in command as just the solitary break of serve saw him take the first set, but a combination of astonishing character and incredible groundstrokes allowed Wawrinka to turn things around.

An engrossing encounter appear poised to head to a fifth set when Djokovic raced 3-0 up in the fourth, only for Wawrinka to respond and win six of the next seven games, surviving a nervy finish to emerge victorious.

The Swiss was on the backfoot on serve for the majority of the first set and his nerve was broken in seventh game as Djokovic quickly moved 40-0 before the break was clinched with a double-fault from the world number nine.

Djokovic’s route to the first set was far from a procession, but, although Wawrinka managed to save two set points and had a chance to break back, he eventually hit a forehand long to hand the set to Djokovic.

Wawrinka had more success on Djokovic’s serve in the second, but continued to display profligacy when opportunities came his way. Another pair of break points and the opportunity for a 3-1 lead went begging due to two errant backhands before Djokovic survived another scare in the sixth game to level at 3-3.

Struggling to find his range with his usually reliable backhand, Wawrinka spurned his fourth break point of the set by hitting long in eighth game.

However, the pressure finally told as Djokovic misfired when serving to save the set, smashing his racket in frustration after his errors tied things up at a set apiece.

Djokovic survived three break points in his first service game of the third set with a familiar display of stubbornness, yet he could do nothing to prevent Wawrinka from taking a 4-2 lead by setting up three break points with a stunning backhand down the line and then snatching the first by dispensing of a tame Djokovic drop shot.

And Wawrinka made sure not to let his position of command slip as he saved a break-back point and, after Djokovic had stood firm to force him to serve out the set, easily held to love.

Djokovic’s response was quick and emphatic as he capitalised on a sloppy service game from Wawrinka to claim an early break in the fourth. But Djokovic was never able to find any consistency and duly allowed Wawrinka to level at 3-3.

Wawrinka unleashed another unstoppable backhand to break the Djokovic resistance for a 5-4 lead. However, Djokovic – always with a flair for the dramatic – refused to lie down as Wawrinka attempted to serve it out.

A first championship point was wasted as Wawrinka hooked one long before the usually clinical Djokovic let a break point slip through his fingers. He then afforded Wawrinka a second chance to wrap things up, which was taken – fittingly – with another rasping backhand.