Reaching the final of the Australian Open was already a milestone in Stanislas Wawrinka's career. Today's victory over the favored Rafael Nadal catapults him to the top of the world for the first time past Roger Federer. "Stan" is now the Swiss number 1 and top 3 in the world!
by Rolf Fleckenstein, Reuters photo
Final match: Stanislas Wawrinka:Rafael Nadal
I think most spectators and pundits had Rafael Nadal pegged as the winner before the match. Stan's performance in the previous rounds - especially his victory over Novak Djokovic, the world number 2 - was more than impressive, but Rafa, the world number 1, is quite a challenge and the probability that Nadal would win today seemed very high.
Set 1
Surprising: Wawrinka starts very strong, superior. He struggles with his first serve, but convinces with a solid baseline game and excellent forehand and backhand winners. Nadal showed his usual determination, with strong serves, but he still made mistakes on his returns. The winners on Wawrinka's side are impressive. He seems very determined, his game is aggressive. At 2-1 and on Nadal's serve, it's suddenly 40-15 for Wawrinka, a break chance, and he recovers the break for 3-1. On his own serve, he can confidently extend the lead to 4-1. Also in the following service game of Nadal, Wawrinka shows very strong returns and plays to 30:30, 40:30 and another break chance after 22 minutes. Nadal is completely sweaty, dripping, his shirt is wet through and through, but he fends off the break chance: it's 4:2 Wawrinka:Nadal. Again Wawrinka shows clear moves and wonderful winners on his own serve, he really outplays Nadal, but he still has problems with his first serve, but he brings his service game through and it's 5:2. Nadal wins his service game and is 5:3 up. Wawrinka serves for a 6:3 set win, but Nadal turns up the heat and wins three break chances at 0:40 with very strong winners. And then suddenly three stupid, almost inexplicable errors by Nadal and it's 40:40. And with an ace Warinka convincingly wins the first set 6:3.
Set 2
The second set starts as the first one ended. Wawrinka dominates the match with great winners and takes the first service game from Nadal and takes a 1:0 lead. He breaks his own service game: 2:0 lead in the set. On Nadal's next service game, Wawrinka plays some good returns, but they go out: first fatigue? He must continue to play at a high level if he wants to win. Score: 2:1 Wawrinka:Nadal. Then Nadal leaves the court, he had already grabbed his back before and now takes a medical time-out. Wawrinka gets loudly annoyed and gets into an argument with the referees, he wants to know what is going on, is it a tactical maneuver by Nadal? After Nadal's return, the match continues. Nadal's returns are weak, Wawrinka's serves are strong. After the 3:1 follows the 4:1 for Wawrinka. Nadal's physiotherapist comes to Rafa's bench and massages his back on the floor. Nadal seems to be plagued by back pain. Nadal weakens, shows very weak serves, Wawrinka on the other hand shows strong serves in the meantime. Nadal comes back a bit, but the score is 5:1. Despite weak serves with 120-125 km/h, Nadal takes his game. The score is 5:2. 1:10 aces Nadal:Wawrinka. The strong performance of Wawrinka secures him the clear victory with 6:2 Wawrinka:Nadal. Nadal lies down again and once more Nadal's physio comes to his bench and massages him and creams his back.
Set 3
On Nadal's serve, Wawrinka has two break chances at 40:15, but Nadal fends them off and takes the game. Nadal seems to recover a bit, is the medicine working? On Wawrinka's serve, the situation is reversed 40:15 for Nadal and Nadal gets the break. Now Nadal turns up, Nadal stronger, Wawrinka weaker: 0:3 Wawrinka:Nadal. Nadal shows strong winners, the match becomes tighter, more balanced. Soon it is 2:5, 3:5 for Nadal. Wawrinka complains loudly to his bench, they should be quiet, he gesticulates aggressively. Wawrinka's nervousness seems to be rising, although you don't immediately notice it behind his calm facade. In the following game, Wawrinka again has two break chances at 40:15, but Nadal prevails and takes the set 3:6 Wawrinka:Nadal. Wawrinka's error rate has increased, Nadal seems to be stronger.
Set 4
Again Wawrinka shows very strong winners, although Nadal returns much better. Two break chances by Wawrinka are again fended off by Nadal. The set seems to be more balanced, the score is 1:1, 2:2. Suddenly Nadal surprises with inexplicably bad returns, Wawrinka gets the 40:15 and two break chances and with a wonderful forehand winner the 4:2. That seems to be the preliminary decision. But now Nadal counter-attacks and gets the rebreak with Wawrinka serving for zero: 4:3! A crazy match. But now Wawrinka gets the break again after 40:15 and it's 5:3 Wawrinka:Nadal. And finally Wawrinka serves to win the set and the match: 15:0,30:0, 40:0. Three match points to win the tournament and Wawrinka takes the game to nil, the set 6:3 and with it the victory of the Australian Open 2014 with 6:3,6:2,3:6 and 6:3 Wawrinka:Nadal!
Stanislas Wawrinka wins his first Grand Slam title and climbs to number three in the world rankings! Congratulations on the great victory!
ATP Ranking
1st Nadal 14330
2 Djokovic 10620
3rd Wawrinka 5710
4. del Potro 5370
5. ferrer 5280
6. murray 4720
7 Berdych 4540
8 Federer 4355
9. gasquet 3050
10 Tsonga 2885
[button class="btn_blue" bg_color="#0045ff" text_color="#FFFF" link="https://www.sportguide.ch/stanislas-wawrinka-steckbrief/" target="_blank"]Profile Stanislas Wawrinka[/button]
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
English 
Deutsch 
Français 
Español 
Italiano