Stan Wawrinka: How mental strength helped me win US Open

Wawrinka's latest effort came when he utilized his massive forehand and brilliant one-handed backhand to overpower Djokovic to win his first U.S. Open title, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 before an Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd of 25,051.

Wawrinka's win posed the question of whether the big four of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray was now a big five, The Los Angeles Times said.

After getting past Evans at Flushing Meadows, Wawrinka beat 2009 victor Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarterfinals and 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori in the semifinals as the heat and humidity soared in NY in the tournament's second week.

Djokovic said after his defeat that Wawrinka, ranked third in the world, "deserves to be in the mix" with tennis' heralded quartet, but the Swiss disagrees.

"The Big Four, I'm really far from them", he said. Just look the tournament they won, how many years they been there. "But of course coming into the Grand Slam final you're giving it your best".

Now boasting as many Grand Slam titles as world number two Murray, Wawrinka isn't planning to slow down, and he seemed a bit affronted that anyone might think he should. "(He has) been around for so many years, and he plays best in the big matches".

"He's winning everything or being in the final". That's why I'm not there. "But I just want to remember what happened 15 years ago". For me, there is no question about that.

En route to his final, Wawrinka defeated both local hope Marin Cilic and Argentine big-hitter Juan Martin del Potro.

I was trying to be tough with myself, trying not to show anything, not to show any pain, not to show any cramps, not to show anything. "This is something that I never had before".

Early in what would become a tight test of a U.S. Open final, Angelique Kerber sprinted forward to somehow reach a drop shot and scoop a down-the-line victor that landed in a corner of the court.

"I won that match and little by little, I started to play better each match", Wawrinka said. "I am completely empty", said No. 3 Wawrinka. "I'm very proud of it, so this loss today can not overshadow the great moments I have had in Australia and especially in Paris", he said. "Sorry, that's how I say it". “And its the first time ever I had that feeling in a tournament and in a match. "Stan is maybe one of the few guys who can really hit through Novak if he has a good day".

This was Kerber's second Grand Slam triumph after the Australian Open this year. He would join Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Andre Agassi, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Don Budge and Fred Perry.

Wawrinka became the first player over 30 to win the Open since Pete Sampras in 2002, and the oldest to win it since Ken Rosewall in 1970.

" I played a lot of tennis and was empty.Emotion with the crowd, atmosphere, and the stadium was awesome.This is an fantastic night".

"Today I was trying to stay with him".

For Djokovic, the priority will be to shake off various ailments he took treatment for at Flushing Meadows, including injuries to his left wrist and right elbow.