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NEW YORK -- Five minutes before Stan Wawrinka walked out onto Arthur Ashe stadium to meet top-ranked Novak Djokovic on Sunday in the US Open mens final, the Swiss star nearly had a breakdown.I was shaking in the locker [room], Wawrinka reported, adding that as he reviewed last-minute details with his coach, Magnus Norman. I start to cry. I was completely shaking.It wasnt fear Wawrinka felt, nor was it pressure, as we commonly know it. It was more like a physical reaction to his hunger and determination not to let this Grand Slam opportunity slip away. And in that sense, it was a good thing. A very good thing.[It happened] because I dont want to lose the final in a Grand Slam, that simple, Wawrinka said. Thats the only reason. This morning, it started to be there, the feeling of, You dont want to lose. So close, so far. So maybe its the reason why I was feeling so nervous.Fueled by resolve, Wawrinka went out and traded warp-speed forehands and backhands with Djokovic for 3 hours, 55 minutes, often under nerve-wracking conditions at deuce and break point. Against most players, that set of circumstances almost always results with an exultant Djokovic.Not on Sunday evening in Queens. For the second time in a major final, Wawrinka demonstrated he had superior firepower and more durable nerves than Djokovic, as he stripped Djokovic of his title 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.The beaten finalist said it accurately when he paid public tribute to the 31-year-old Swiss No. 3 seed immediately after the match with a marvelous, concise summary: Congrats to Stan. He was more courageous in the decisive moments.The words were anything but symbolic. After the match, Djokovic rued his terrible success rate on those critical break points. He converted just 3-of-17, while Wawrinka capitalized on 6-of-10. As Djokovic added, In matches like this, if you dont use the opportunities, the other guy comes and takes it. He stepped in and played aggressive, where I was kind of more waiting for things to happen. And thats it.Never has Stan been more The Man than on Sunday afternoon. His tournament had been a brutal march through long matches in stifling heat and perilous pairings. He played five completed matches. (Wawrinka survived a match-point in his third-round clash with?Daniel Evans.) Djokovic, by contrast, had played just three completed?matches.Today, I was trying to stay with him, Wawrinka admitted of playing Djokovic. I was trying to be tough with myself. Trying not to show anything. Not to show any pain. Not to show any cramp. Not to show anything. I was suffering on the court, but Im happy and proud with what I have achieved today.Wawrinka is known as the Stanimal, a nickname bestowed on him in honor of his muscular build and the sheer weight of his shot. When his groundstrokes hit the court, you can feel it in your molars. His serve is a heavy cannon, and while his movement isnt always smooth, hes deceptively quick.Wawrinka, now 31, is routinely underestimated because he lacks the day-in, day-out capacity to dazzle in the manner of Swiss fellow countryman Roger Federer or Djokovic. Strength -- rather than artistry, athleticism or fiery temperament -- is Wawrinkas strong suit.Thats not only rare in a world-class player, it also doesnt always have immediate eye appeal. Wawrinka is moody, and when hes not feeling inspired, his game pops rivets and screws, and it bursts apart.These shortcomings all shed light on why Wawrinka is sometimes different from the elite cadre known as the Big Four. But even before Wawrinka won, Djokovic described him as a big-match player.And small wonder: Going into this final, Wawrinka was 10-0 in his most recent finals, which includes his stunning upset of Djokovic in the 2015 French Open final, as well as his triumph against Rafael Nadal in his first major final at the Australian Open.Wawrinka now has as many Grand Slam titles as Andy Murray?at three. Wawrinka also accomplished something Federer never has: He has beaten Djokovic in two Grand Slam finals and did so in the period of Djokovics most fluent mastery.Wawrinka said hes thrilled with his career but knows he hasnt won enough important titles or been to nearly as many major semifinals and finals. As for any aspirations to the No. 1 ranking, he sounded a similar theme.My best ranking was No. 3 in the world, Wawrinka said. Its simple. Im way too far to even think about being No. 1. Im winning four tournaments a year. Im really happy with that. Four tournaments, one Grand Slam. Its amazing. Its huge. Its big. But Im way too far to be No. 1.Still, Wawrinkas win could be a game-changer in mens tennis. He is nothing less than overpowering. We now know that his ability to produce his best tennis on a critical occasion isnt sheer luck but a previously unmined aspect of his psyche.As Djokovic said, He just steps in. He loves to play in the big matches. He comes up with his best game.Federer will be back in yoke and fresh for 2017, but hell be 35 years old and coming out of extensive rehabilitation on a damaged knee. It looks more and more like Nadal has lost some vital component of his competitors makeup, perhaps permanently.Murray had a terrific 2016, but he has never been as consistent as the other three members of the Big Four. Djokovic won two majors this year and completed a career Grand Slam. But that aura of invulnerability was tarnished over the course of the summer, and now Wawrinka put a significant dent in it.Wawrinka keeps insisting he doesnt belong among the elite Big Four, but Djokovic understands that all bets are off on that one.He deserves to be in the mix, no doubt about it, the world No. 1 said. Stan won three Grand Slams now, three different ones, and Olympic medal. [Hes] been around for so many years, and he plays best in the big matches. I mean, he definitely deserves to be mentioned in the mix of top players. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Wholesale Athletics Jerseys . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Stitched Athletics Jerseys . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Oakland Athletics Store . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. ARIZONA (4-4-1) at MINNESOTA (5-4)Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FoxOPENING LINE -- Vikings by 1RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Cardinals 3-6, Vikings 5-4SERIES RECORD -- Vikings lead 15-11LAST MEETING -- Cardinals beat Vikings 23-20, Dec. 10, 2015LAST WEEK -- Cardinals beat 49ers 23-20; Vikings lost to Redskins 26-20AP PRO32 RANKING -- Cardinals No. 17, Vikings No. 15CARDINALS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (7), RUSH (14), PASS (7)CARDINALS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (2), RUSH (12), PASS (2)VIKINGS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (32), RUSH (32), PASS (23)VIKINGS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (3), RUSH (10), PASS (6)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Vikings have won all eight meetings in Minnesota since Cardinals move to Arizona in 1988. Last loss at home to franchise was in 1977 to St. Louis Cardinals. ... Cardinals play five of final seven games on road. All but two remaining opponents currently have winning records, with combined mark of 35-27-2. ... Under coach Bruce Arians, Cardinals are 7-0 against NFC North foes, including win in playoffs last season vs. Green Bay. ... Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has 300-plus yards passing in each of last three games. ... Cardinals RB David Johnson ranks second in NFL with 1,213 yards from scrimmage, with 100-plus in all nine games. ... CCardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, playing in native city against team he once served as ballboy, has 22 catches over last two games.dddddddddddd. ... Vikings have lost four straight games for first time since Oct. 13-Nov. 3, 2013. ... K Kai Forbath will make Vikings debut, after release of Blair Walsh. ... Vikings WR Stefon Diggs is first player in NFL history with at least 13 catches in consecutive games. He needs 11 receptions to set another all-time mark. Three players, most recently Antonio Brown for Pittsburgh last year, share three-game record with 36 catches. ... In four home games with Vikings, QB Sam Bradford has six TD passes with no interceptions and average of 273 yards passing for 111.3 passer rating. ... Vikings have only three sacks in last four games. ... Fantasy Tip: Cardinals WR Michael Floyd coming off season-high five receptions for 101 yards. Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson, also overdue for kickoff return TD without one this year, has 28 catches and two TDs over last six games.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '