STAN Wawrinka has three majors and Novak Djokovic, 12.
Worlds apart, indeed.
Djokovic alone has a Grand Slam and Wawrinka none.
Wawrinka needs to win the 2017 Wimbledon for a four-major sweep to complete a rare Grand Slam.
Easier said than done.
The 31-year-old Wawrinka, definitely the lesser-known Swiss after the legendary Roger Federer, won the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open and, just last Sunday, the US Open.
In pocketing the US Open, Wawrinka became the oldest champ at New York’s Flushing Meadows since Ken Rosewall was 35 in 1970.
“Honestly, after the match, I was completely empty,” said Wawrinka after his four-hour, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Djokovic of Serbia. “I put everything on the court.”
Wawrinka now has become a major winner three years in a row, punctuating the last one by saving 14 of 17 break points.
“We played almost four hours,” said Djokovic, “and I think I can speak in the name of Stan, as well: We both felt it.”
But in defeat, Djokovic was also a winner as well.
He was a hesitant participant, entering the tournament loaded with health concerns.
Djokovic nursed a hurting left wrist in dropping a shock first-round loss in the Rio Olympics last month. His shoulders and right elbow bothered him the past two weeks. Worse, his blistered toes continually bled in the final against Wawrinka.
Yet, when Wawrinka finally prevailed, nary a whimper was heard from Djokovic.
“He was more courageous, because he stepped in and played aggressive,” said Djokovic, never mentioning about twice removing his shoes for a six-minute treatment of his bleeding toes.
Asked to asses his 2016 season, Djokovic, the first man to surpass $100 million in career prize money in tennis, said: “Winning two of four Grand Slams (Australian and French Opens) is a pretty good year, and playing another final (US Open)—I have no complaints.”
Wawrinka, aside from his record $3.5 million purse, had this MVP (Most Valuable Prize) for the ages from Djokovic no less: “You have to shake hands and accept the loss from a better player.”
Coming from someone with 21 Grand Slam finals stitched to his name, Wawrinka should frame that compliment for eternal savoring by generations to come. Wow!
(alsol47@yahoo.com)