New York: Stan Wawrinka will summon the spirit of his epic Grand Slam battles with Novak Djokovic in a bid to sweep past the world number one and capture a first US Open title on Sunday.
Wawrinka trails 19-4 in his career meetings with Djokovic, who is chasing a third New York crown and 13th major.
But the 31-year-old Swiss has derailed the Serb before on the biggest stage.
In 2014, Wawrinka won a five-set quarter-final on his way to a first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open, beating Rafael Nadal in the final.
Twelve months earlier in Melbourne, there had been warning signs with Djokovic needing to grind out a 12-10 final set in the fourth round.
Last year, Djokovic saw his hopes of completing a career Slam crushed in four sets by the Swiss in the French Open final. Even when the Serb has prevailed at the majors, it’s often been on a knife-edge.
When he defeated Wawrinka in the semi-finals of the 2013 US Open, he had to fight from two sets to one down. At the 2015 Australian Open, Djokovic needed another five sets to win their semifinal. “I think he’s so good that he always find a way to be better. For sure he made me better,” Wawrinka said.
“The matchup has always been interesting to see because the way we are playing. I’m trying to be aggressive. I can play really hard. He is an amazing defender.”
Djokovic, playing in his 21st major final and seeking a third Grand Slam title of 2016, is only too aware of the dangers posed by the Swiss to his bid to add to his 2011 and 2015 US Open titles.
“He’s a big match player. He loves to play on the big stage, against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance,” said 29-year-old Djokovic.
“He doesn’t get too stressed by the big occasion. He’s very powerful, big serve. Probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. He can be very dangerous for everybody.”
Djokovic was left wondering what had hit him at Roland Garros in 2015.
He had beaten Andy Murray and Nadal to get to the final but Wawrinka hadn’t read the script, his 60 winners proving hammer blows to the Serb.
Since that loss in Paris, however, it has virtually been business as usual.
Djokovic went on to win a second US Open, a sixth Australian Open and first Roland Garros in June which allowed him complete a career Grand Slam.
