Wawrinka defeats Kei Nishikori to set up US Open final with Djokovic


Stan Wawrinka will face Novak Djokovic in the US Open final after the Swiss came from behind to beat Japan's Kei Nishikori.


Wawrinka dropped the opening set in a hot and humid Arthur Ashe Stadium but the world No 3 battled back to win 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 and reach his third Grand Slam final.

He will now meet defending champion Djokovic on Sunday in a repeat of the 2015 French Open, when Wawrinka stunned the Serb to clinch his second major title.

Roger Federer was beaten by Djokovic in the final here 12 months ago but with the 17-time Grand Slam champion injured and absent from Flushing Meadows, it is another Swiss now hoping to get his hands on the trophy.

"I knew it would be really tough to beat Kei," Wawrinka said.

"He was playing very good from the beginning, dictating, not giving me any time to get my game. I had to wait, fight, try to make him more uncomfortable.

"He also started to get tired a little bit and that's when I started to get my game, to be aggressive.

"I'm happy, it was an amazing atmosphere and to tell myself I'm going to be in the final is something crazy."

Wawrinka's triumph at Roland Garros was the only time Djokovic has lost a major final in his last seven appearances at that stage and the 31-year-old may need a performance of similar magnitude if he is to manage a repeat.


No comments

Post a Comment

Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)

Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com

© Copyright © 2023 NigerianEye.com | Your Online Nigerian Newspaper | All Rights Reserved