Wawrinka wins first US Open

NEW YORK (AP):

Pointing to his temple after winning the biggest of points, Stan Wawrinka wore Novak Djokovic down and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 yesterday for his first US Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.

The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest US Open men's champion since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970. Yet he already had gained the upper hand by the time No. 1 Djokovic clutched at his upper left leg and grimaced after missing a forehand while getting broken early in the fourth set. From there, Djokovic briefly began conceding points, showing little of the fight he's so famous for.

Trailing 3-1 in the fourth set, Djokovic was granted the unusual chance to have a medical timeout at a time other than a changeover. He removed both shoes and socks so a trainer could help him out with what appeared to be blisters on toes.

Wawrinka complained to the chair umpire about the six-minute break and Djokovic looked over and apologised.

BREAK CHANCES

When they resumed, Djokovic earned three break points, but Wawrinka held for 4-1. That continued a pattern that carried throughout: Djokovic, as good a returner as there is in the game now, certainly and perhaps ever managed to convert only three of 17 break chances.

Earlier yesterday, Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic won the women's doubles title for their third Grand Slam trophy as a pair. They beat the top-seeded French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.