8 Jun 2015

Wawrinka wins French Open title

5:37 am on 8 June 2015

The Swiss tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka stunned Novak Djokovic to win his first French Open title and thwart the world number one's career Grand Slam hopes.

The eighth seed played magnificently in a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory at Roland Garros.

Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka celebrates win at French Open 2015.

Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka celebrates win at French Open 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

30-year-old Wawrinka brought an end to Djokovic's 28-match winning streak as he claimed his second Grand Slam title.

Djokovic had been hoping to become the eighth man to complete the set of all four major titles.

There were no jeers this time as Wawrinka defied the odds to win the title.

He was booed by the crowd when he played French opponents this year.

The 2014 Australian Open champions says he played the match of his life, it's hard to believe.

"It was a crazy atmosphere these two weeks. I'd like to thank you."

Wawrinka used his superb one-handed backhand to devastating effect, hitting flat groundstrokes that wore down eight-times grand slam champion Djokovic, who was looking to complete a career grand slam in Paris.

He sealed victory on his second match point with his 60th winner, a flashing backhand down the line that made him the second Swiss player to prevail Porte d'Auteuil after Roger Federer in 2009.

Unbeaten on clay this season, Djokovic threatened Wawrinka on his serve early on and he converted his third break chance when the Swiss served a double fault.

The Australian Open champion wasted two set points by playing too casually, and had a break point against him, which he saved with a service winner. He had a third set point that he converted when Wawrinka's forehand sailed long.

As his first serve percentage slightly dropped, Djokovic faced multiple break points. Wawrinka could not convert four of them in the second set, whacking his racket twice on the net in frustration, but he made the most of his fifth chance -- his sixth of the match -- on set point to level the tie.

This sent Djokovic into a rage and the Serbian spiked his racket onto the ground, a move that earned him a warning from the chair umpire.

Wawrinka had the upper hand and he broke to love for 4-2 when he slapped a forehand winner after retrieving yet another lame drop shot from Djokovic -- his eighth point in a row.

He clinched the third set when Djokovic returned long.

Unable to maintain the pressure, Wawrinka conceded a break in the second game of the fourth set and Djokovic moved 3-0 up.

But Wawrinka rallied and even had two break points for 4-3, which Djokovic saved with a volley and a backhand winner.

In a topsy-turvy encounter, it was fitting that in the following game it was Djokovic who had the break chances. Wawrinka went for his shots and saw off all three.

Djokovic looked like he had lost his game plan and Wawrinka broke for 5-4 with a flashing backhand winner down the line.

Although he saved the first match point, the Serbian had long lost another French Open final after his 2012 and 2014 defeats.

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