NEU » h.dddddddddddd.Djokovic, like Roger Federer

NEW YORK -- In his first service game, Stan Wawrinka framed forehands on back-to-back points. He completely whiffed on a returnable serve in the next, and suddenly you got the feeling an overtaxed Wawrinka wasnt seeing the ball -- wasnt feeling it -- in this final Grand Slam match of the season.But in recent years, the 31-year-old Swiss player has made a spectacular living proving people wrong.It happened again Sunday at the US Open. Wawrinka, who came into this final having spent nearly twice as much time on court as Novak Djokovic,?imposed his will in fiercely forceful fashion.The score of this bruising, 3-hour, 55-minute match: 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.Wawrinka has now won all three of the Grand Slam finals in which he has played. And all three times, he beat the worlds No. 1 player.You cant be any more clutch than that.Theres more, too. Wawrinka saved a match point against Dan Evans in the third round. And he has now won 11 consecutive finals. In the match-altering, nerve-testing area of break points, Wawrinka saved 14 of 17.During the trophy ceremony, Wawrinka, perhaps thinking of some of his vital career wins over Djokovic, told the Serb, Because of you, Im where I am today.Later, Wawrinka added, I came here without putting a goal to win it. I think I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks.I am completely empty.Earlier, Djokovic addressed Wawrinka, saying, This has been absolutely deserved today. You were a more courageous player in decisive moments.Concluding the interview, Djokovic said, He was the tougher player mentally.Wawrinka alone prevented Djokovic from winning all four majors a year ago and from winning three this season. Djokovic was trying to join Roger Federer as the only man to win three Grand Slam singles titles two years in a row.Three career majors -- the same as Andy Murray. It might be time to rethink that Big Four thing.Djokovic, who in recent years turned resolve from a liability into a weapon, was the one who cracked in those defining late-set moments. Serving at 5-6 to stay in the third set, Djokovic made two backhand errors to give Wawrinka the critical frame.All things told, this was a wonderful demonstration of tennis.Wawrinka, with some thunderous shots from both sides, moved Djokovic around the court. But the Serb is the games best defender, and he absorbed the majority of those blows with some sublime footwork, hand-eye coordination and intuition that borders on telepathy.The subsidiary drama concerned Wawrinkas stamina. He invested a great deal of energy in mounting a comeback in the first set before losing the tiebreaker.Coming into the match, the No. 3-seeded Swiss had spent 17 hours, 54 minutes on court in six matches here. Djokovic, who saw three opponents come up injured and played only three complete matches, was on the court for 8 hours, 58 minutes -- two minutes shy of exactly half his opponents total.Djokovic was unable to extend the match long enough to bring that advantage into play, but it was he who appeared to be visited by leg cramps in the fourth set after the fourth game. That set off a fascinating sequence.According to ATP World Tour rules, trainers cannot be called on court to treat cramps alone. Instead, treatment requires an acute medical condition, and it should occur only on changeovers. But Djokovic asked for the trainer and immediately took both his shoes off, gesturing to his toes, which were then taped.Wawrinka, who had seen an apparently cramping Evans ask for a trainer in his third-round match -- and be denied -- complained vigorously.Sorry, man, said Djokovic to Wawrinka.It looked like a page from Sports Psychology 101, a desperate piece of gamesmanship, a classic icing-the-kicker play.ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe agreed. Complete abuse of the rules, he said on the broadcast. Its up to the officials to do something about it. They just dont have the guts to do it. Thats the bottom line.In the end, it didnt matter. Wawrinka handled the entire episode with restraint and poise. The two players, who are friendly, embraced warmly at net and talked amiably.Now, believe it or not, all Wawrinka needs is a title at Wimbledon to complete his career Grand Slam.On court, he was asked about his mastery in some of the sports massive moments.I dont know, Wawrinka said, laughing. Ive been practicing hard since many million years. My goal is to give everything I have to be the best player I can. Im trying, step by step.Thats what happened tonight. Emre Can Juventus Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Federico Bernardeschi Juventus Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. http://www.juventusfcpro.com/Kids-Joao-Cancelo-Jersey/ . 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Full disclosure: The oddsmakers still favor Djokovic by the slightest of margins.Murray absolutely wrecked Lukas Rosol in the opening round, dropping only seven games. Djokovic gave away that many in a single set -- and 13 overall -- in an uninspired initial outing against Jerzy Janowicz.All in all, this is probably a good thing for Djokovic, who lately has been fraying at his ends.On Wednesday afternoon, he received the best news possible: Jiri Vesely pulled out of their second-round match with a left forearm injury. Vesely actually had a career 1-0 record against Djokovic after winning earlier this spring in Monte Carlo.This gives the 29-year-old three full days of non-match rest, which gives his sore left wrist and right arm a chance to recover for his third-round match against either Guido Pella or Mikhail Youzhny.Djokovic came into this US Open as the defending champion, but was knocked out of the Rio Olympics in the first round by Juan Martin del Potro and forced to withdraw from the recent tournament in Cincinnati.The wrist was the issue coming in, but when Djokovic called for the ATP World Tour trainer to work on his arm during that first-round match, more red flags were raised. Afterward, he understandably declined to get into specifics about his physical condition.To be honest, I take it day by day, Djokovic said. Thats what I feel at the moment. Its good, as I said, just to finish the match. Im pleased that as the match progressed I was feeling better and better.I hope that Illl feel overall good so Im able to perform at my best for the next match.dddddddddddd.Djokovic, like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, is experiencing some of the difficulties that come from being at the top of his craft. All tennis players suffer stress on their joints, but the ones who go deepest into draws feel it the most. In the past 52 weeks, Djokovic has played 84 matches, the most in tennis. Murray (78) and Milos Raonic (66) are next in line.Not only is Djokovic the father of a 1-year-old, Stefan, he was recently elected president of the player council, a position that requires time and leadership abilities.Despite all the swirling questions, Djokovic has a chance to do something quite rare. With a title here, he can join Roger Federer (2006-07) as the second man to win three majors in consecutive years.And consider this bit of fortuitous statistical fodder: Djokovic has won seven straight matches against the highest-seeded player in his half of the draw, No. 4 Rafael Nadal, and has never lost to the next two, No. 5 Milos Raonic (7-0) and No. 7 Marin Cilic (14-0).After his first-round match, Djokovic did not sound like a man succumbing to the hysteria of the moment.I have more than enough happiness in my life and blessings to be a father and a husband, he said. Life is wonderful. I mean, there is no doubt about it. I cannot sit here and complain and whine about the issues that everybody has in each day in their lives, privately, professionally.When you expect the least, thats when you have things coming at you as lifes lessons. Im glad that Im able to accept them and to greet them with a consciousness of wanting to evolve and wanting to get the best out of them. Thats all I can say. ' ' '