Stan Wawrinka stunned the tennis world by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Finals at the 2015 French Open on Sunday, June 7. Wawrinka, the world’s #4 best professional tennis player won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 against Djokovic. While Twitter and rest of the internet blew up with comments on his infamous plaid shorts, it was clearly his famous single-handed backhand that drove him to win big. Wawrinka proudly displayed his infamous plaid gray, red, and white Yonex shorts next to La Coupe des Mousquetaires while giving a victory speech to the press.
“I’m not as strong as the big four – they are winning everything. But I’m strong enough to win some big titles. I haven’t found the way to play my best game every tournament but I’m still OK and satisfied with my career so far. I’m not as good as they are but I’m good enough to win two grand slam tournaments,” said Wawrinka. “I can beat them in major tournaments – in a semi-final, in a final – but the big four will always be the big four. I don’t want to be in comparison with them. I want to make progress and strides. I want to beat them.”
Wawrinka joked that England’s Wimbledon will probably not allow him to wear his shorts. The shorts resemble boxers. He said that “a lot of people have talked about them and it’s quite funny that they won the French Open.” According to L’Equipe, a French sports newspaper, Wawrinka has decided to “swim, play tennis and then sleep in them.” At his final press conference, the 30-year-old Swiss player displayed the winning pair of shorts in front of him.
During the Finals, a frustrated Djokovic was seen and caught on video thrashing his tennis raquet on the clay surface twice to vent his frustration. The raquet was severely bent and deformed after being bounced off the ground multiple times. Djokovic treated his raquet like a boomerang. He threw it down and it bounced back up to his face. Fortunately, it did not hit his face, although it nearly did.
He demolished his tennis raquet after losing a set to Wawrinka. He was booed by the French crowd, with several close spectators looking at him with disapproval. Some gestured with their hands and arms raised as if to inquire, “What the heck are you doing?” He received a code violation for his actions. Djokovic, a player known for tasting victory by eating the grass at Wimbledon, was perhaps punishing the clay surface for not being favorable to him.
Novak Djokovic playing against Argentine player Guido Pella at Roland Garros on May 2013.
The French Open takes place on clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. Tennis balls on clay courts have a tendency to move slow and bounce high. The French Open is divided into six different categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Singles Final. The prize money for the 2015 French Open is 28,028,600 euros. The winner of the men’s singles wins The Musketeers’ Trophy (La Coupe des Mousquetaires).
French Open Scoreboard:
Wawrinka won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 against Novak Djokovic at the Finals on Sunday, June 7. In the 1st Round, Wawrinka won 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 against Turkish player Marsel Ilhan on May 24. In the 2nd Round, he won 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 against Serbian player Dusan Lajovic on May 27. In the 3rd Round, he won 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 against American Steve Johnson on May 29. In the 4th Round, he won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Frenchman Gilles Simon on May 31. Wawrinka won 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 against Roger Federer on June 2 at the Quarterfinals. He won 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on June 5 at the Semifinals.
Djokovic lost in the Finals against Stan Wawrinka on Sunday, June 7. In Round 1, Serbian player Novak Djokovic won 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 against Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday, May 26. In Round 2, he won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 against Luxembourgish player Gilles Muller on Thursday, May 28. In Round 3, he won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis on Saturday, May 30. In Round 4, he won 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 against French player Richard Gasquet. Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 against Rafael Nadal on Wednesday, June 3. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 against Murray on Friday, June 3 in the Semifinals.
Player Info::
Wawrinka won the 2015 French Open after defeating Djokovic in the Finals on Sunday, June 7. Wawrinka holds two Grand Slam titles, having won at the 2014 Australian Open and at the 2015 French Open. He is currently ranked 4th in the world. He is 30 years old, 6’, and is right handed. He is considered to be “the best one-handed backhand in the game,” as stated by John McEnroe years ago.
Djokovic holds 53 career titles. 28-year-old Djokovic is ranked 1st by the ATP. He won eight Grand Slams in his career. Djokovic is 6’2” and is right handed. He is coached by Marian Vajda and Boris Becker. Djokovic began his professional career in 2003.
