Wawrinka, Kerby Claims U.S. Tennis Open Titles

By ESPN

Stan Wawrinka is the first to acknowledge he hasn't always been the most consistent player -- or the strongest mentally. That's why when he shows his mettle during a match, he likes to point his right index finger to his temple.

That signature gesture got a lot of use in the US Open final on Sunday, when Wawrinka surprisingly managed to wear down Novak Djokovic and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 for his first US Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall.

"He was the better player. He was tougher mentally," said Djokovic, offering two of the highest compliments a tennis player can receive from the talented Serb ranked No. 1. "He knew what to do. And I was just unlucky in some moments. And that's it."

The 31-year-old Wawrinka is the oldest US Open men's champion since Ken Rosewall won in 1970 at 35 years of age. Wawrinka entered Sunday having spent almost exactly twice as much time on court as Djokovic during the course of the tournament: about 18 hours versus about nine hours.

"I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks. I am completely empty," said No. 3 Wawrinka, who noted during the trophy ceremony that Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Kerby Beats Pliskova For Women's Title

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 winner to a corner.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd roared, and Kerber celebrated by raising her right hand and wagging her index finger in the air, as if to remind opponent Karolina Pliskova _ and everyone else _ "I'm No. 1!''

Yes, she is. And a two-time Grand Slam champion, too.

Kerber won her first U.S. Open title and the second major trophy of her out-of-nowhere breakthrough season, taking five of the last six games to beat a fading Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday.