No. 5 Stan Wawrinka advances with win over Donald Young at the U.S. Open
NEW YORK – And then there was one.
Monday afternoon American Donald Young went out to No. 5 seed Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, leaving John Isner as the lone U.S. representative in men’s singles still alive at the tournament.
Here’s what went down on Arthur Stadium court between the two-time Grand Slam champ and Young.
Scoreline: [5] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) def. Donald Young (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Donald was playing in just his second-ever Grand Slam fourth round, and first since he got this far at the U.S. Open in 2011, a run in which he beat Wawrinka in a fifth-set tiebreak in the second round. The 26-year-old American had a strong showing, but couldn’t get over the hurdle that his top 5 opponent offered.
What it means: Even with the loss, the U.S. Open was a relative breakthrough (once again) for Young, who twice came from two-sets-to-love down at this tournament, including in the first round against No. 11 seed Gilles Simon and then once more against No. 22 seed Viktor Troicki. Can he carry over that success moving forward? That’s what is yet to be seen.
Wawrinka, now 30, continues to include himself in the Grand Slam conversation. The Swiss man broke through at the Australian Open last year, then shocked Novak Djokovic in Paris this year to win a second major at the French Open. He’ll meet either Andy Murray or Kevin Anderson in the quarterfinals on Roger Federer’s half of the draw. Wawrinka reaches his eighth Grand Slam quarterfinal in his last nine played.
How it happened: After Wawrinka won the opening set off a single break in the third game he largely went away, Young controlling the points in set two to win it 6-1 and hand Stan his first dropped set of the tournament.
But Wawrinka fond another gear in set three, racing to a 5-0 lead against an increasingly frustrated Young, a lefty. Wawrinka would win that set 6-3, then break to open the fourth and consolidate, 2-0. Wawrinka’s controlled aggression is what saw him through this match against an opponent who lacks a major weapon. “Hit the ball, D!” He could be heard barking at himself towards the end of the match.
Wawrinka closed out the win with a sneak attack volley winner, his second win in three tries vs. Young.
Key stat: While Wawrinka served just above 50% for the match, he won 81% of points on those deliveries, and belted 52 winners to 48 unforced errors. It was a match that Wawrinka controlled one way or another: Young hit only 14 winners to 20 unforced errors.
What he said: “I think I calmed down a little bit” after the second set, Wawrinka said on court. “I tried to focus on my game and be more aggressive. I’m in the quarterfinals again, which is for me a great result.”
Regarding his racket smash at one point: “Sometimes you don’t control yourself and need to [get] the stress out. It helps you focus. After [it], I played well. I’m happy to beat Donald; he’s a great player and had a great tournament.”
Tall task: Isner, the No. 1 American, carries the torch on his own once again, and has the tough ask of trying to beat Roger Federer in the evening session to reach the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open for the first time since 2011.
GALLERY: 2015 U.S. OPEN ROUND OF 16