Australian Open champion, Stanislas Wawrinka won the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time defeating his Swiss compatriot and 17-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Sunday.
In 15 career meetings this is Wawrinka’s second win over his close friend. This victory makes no change in Wawrinka’s world number three ranking. Since 2000 when Federer lost to Marc Rosset in Marseille, this was the first all-Swiss final on the ATP.
Wawrinka had lost his previous two Masters finals, first in 2008 in Rome to Novak Djokovic and then in Madrid last year to Rafael Nadal. After Chennai and Melbourne, this is Wawrinka’s third title of the year. This is the seventh title of the Wawrinka’s career.
Wawrinka said that it’s been an incredible week for him. He praised Roger saying that he is the best of all-time for him and it was an honour to play with him and win in the final. Both the players, shared a warm hug at the net as they are good friends too.
Federer said that now his record in Monte Carlo finals is 0-4 as he had lost previous three to Rafael Nadal from 2006-2008. This was the first time that Federer and Wawrinka clashed in a championship decider.
Federer has lost three of his four finals this year on which he said that one must try to see the positive side and not to be disappointed or frustrated. The next two Masters events are on clay at Madrid and Rome followed by the French Open, starting on May 25.
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