The 30-year-old Swiss Stan Wawrinka shattered Novak Djokovic's dream of a career Grand Slam on Sunday when he became the oldest winner of the French Open in 25 years. Wawrinka claimed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory to secure his second career major after the 2014 Australian Open.
It ended world number one Djokovic's bid to become only the eighth man to secure a career Slam as he slumped to his third defeat in a Roland Garros final in four years. Wawrinka became the oldest champion in Paris since Andres Gomez in 1990 after just his fourth win in 21 meetings against the Serb.
"It's really hard to believe but it has finally happened," said Wawrinka, who fired 60 winners past the Serb. "It was the match of my life. But bravo to Novak, it's a great challenge, the biggest one to play him." "It's a special moment for me." Sunday's shock defeat, meanwhile, was only Djokovic's third in 44 outings in 2015 and ended his 28-match winning streak. It was also his eighth loss in 16 finals at the majors.
Serena wins women's crown
Serena Williams won her 20th Grand Slam title and third French Open crown on Saturday by defeating the 13th seed Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-7 (27), 6-2. In what was a disjointed affair, the 33-year-old American was coasting to a straight-sets win, a set and 4-1 up against the Czech 13th seed, playing in her first Grand Slam final at the age of 28.
But a combination of serving woes for Williams and some top play from Safarova forced a third set, the fifth of the tournament for the American. She fell 0-2 down in that, but recovered her composure in the nick of time to rattle off six games in a row for the title.
With 20 Grand Slam titles Williams is now second on the Open-era list, two shy of Steffi Graf. She is also now halfway to winning all four Grand Slam titles, in the same year, a feat previously achieved by just three other women, the last being Graf in 1988. For Safarova, who reached the final without dropping a set, the consolation will be her debut in the world top 10, at number seven.
“I played very well and she was a magnificent opponent for me,” Williams said. “She was very aggressive and I was a bit nervous at a set and a break up. It's special for me because I don't play well all the time here (in Paris), but I am so pleased to win my 20th Grand Slam here.”
