It was not just a French Open title that slipped through Novak Djokovic’s fingers. It was the third French Open title that eluded the world number one in as many deciders. It was yet another stumbling block in the Serb’s quest for a career Grand Slam, an honour that has been tantalisingly close since 2012 but still just out of grasp.
In the first two finals, nine-time champion Rafa Nadal was Djokovic’s undoing. This time, it wasn’t so. The two did meet in the quarter-finals, but the sixth-seeded Spaniard was only a shadow of his former intimidating self and was swept aside by his in-form opponent in straight sets.
Then was it Roger Federer, the once invincible force in tennis who still displays flashes of brilliance, who denied Djokovic his shining moment? Hardly. So was it Andy Murray, whose unprecedented success on clay this season saw him lift two back-to-back titles on clay courts, who prevented Djokovic from lifting the Musketeers’ Trophy? He may have, had he not been beaten in the semi-final at the hands of his old rival despite putting on a spirited four-hour show and taking the match to five sets.
No, it was a man outside the Big Four who shattered Djokovic’s dream of joining the seven male players in the elite Career Grand Slam club. It was the man few were counting on to create the great upset even after he raced to the final after dropping just two sets on his way. Stan Wawrinka, all 1.83 metres of him, ended Djokovic’s 28-match winning streak with a scorching backhand inside the baseline and flung his racquet in the air in triumph.
