Stanislas Wawrinka downs Roger Federer to clinch Monte Carlo Masters title

Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka pose with their trophies after the Monte Carlo final

The Monte Carlo Rolex Masters witnessed an intensely fought final between two equally determined Swiss men. In the end though, Stanislas Wawrinka proved to be the more tenacious of the two as he rallied from behind for a fantastic 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over his compatriot Roger Federer to earn the first Masters Series title of his career.

Wawrinka took his time to bite into the contest, but once he did, he was relentless in drawing Federer wider and deeper behind his backhand to gain valuable court space and control the rallies and the match.

While Wawrinka was seeking to open his Masters Series account, Federer wasn’t too far ahead, at least with Monte Carlo. The Swiss maestro has been in 35 finals, including three in Monaco, but alongside Shanghai and Rome, this was one trophy he was yet to lay his hands upon.

In the end, Wawrinka packed too much power and precision for Federer who faded as the match progressed.

It was a terrific effort from the new Swiss No. 1 who showed remarkable composure despite losing the first set and squandering a 2-0 advantage in the second; he eventually defeated Federer in two hours and 16 minutes.

At the start, the world No. 3 was understandably nervous, but he held his nerve to hold serve and get the match off the blocks. Federer gave away his strategy early, choosing to serve and volley, showing some elegant touch at the net to hold his own.

This was an important final for Wawrinka, who was struggling to regain his appetite after that Australian Open success. The 29-year-old played with purpose and conviction to push Federer into surrendering the first break point of the match when a rushed backhand caught the net.

But Wawrinka wasted the opportunity when he sailed a running forehand long and soon a hustled Federer held serve to 2-2. Against the flow, it was Wawrinka who stumbled in the next game. He made a string of unforced errors as he let slip a couple of game points to allow Federer ahead at 3-2.

Federer held serve immediately, consolidating to 4-2. A determined Wawrinka played with renewed vigour to stay in touch by holding easily in the seventh game. Playing with the swing, Wawrinka pushed a window open at 0-30 in the next game, but Federer used his serve to good effect to avert any damage.

Federer threatened to close the set in the ninth game, drawing Wawrinka to deuce from the relative comfort of 40-0 lead, but he he couldn’t get the break and still needed to serve it out. And the set was safely in the bag for the 32-year-old when Wawrinka failed to keep a return in play on Federer’s first set point.

Wawrinka’s 17 unforced errors did hurt him, especially some that came toward the end of the set, but Federer deserved credit for managing to keep the points short when possible. The world No. 4 took the point on 8 of 9 forays to the net, making it extremely worthwhile for him to step forward.

He may have been down, but Wawrinka was far from out. He struck back immediately, forcing a break off the Federer serve as he gained a 2-0 lead. But the advantage did not last long, as Federer gained three break points in the third game of the second set.

Federer needed just the one, as he reversed his stride to reach out on his backhand side and literally thread the needle with a winner that kissed the line even as a stunned Wawrinka could do no more than watch in dismay.

Federer was under some stress again in the fourth game. But he survived two break points and three deuces to hold his own and prevent falling back yet again.

Immediately after Wawrinka held serve to 3-2, the showers presented themselves, forcing open the umbrellas and leaving the players seated on their courtside benches.

It was only a brief pelting of sundry rain drops and Wawrinka used the break to pull on a new shirt and find another racket from his well-stocked kit. A fine backhand drop volley from Federer followed by a put-away kept things even at 3-3.

Federer played another solid service game in the eighth, holding to love as if to signal that he was willing to raise it a notch at just about the right time. Wawrinka was equal to the challenge, calmly spurning Federer’s advances to remain ahead at 5-4.

As the intensity heightened, it was taking some inch perfect tennis from both the men who were trying to find that elusive edge. With neither man in the mood for a slip-up, the key to the set was to be found in a tie-breaker.

Federer had won six of the seven breakers between these two Swiss men, but had surrendered their last one when they played in Indian Wells last year. Federer made a forehand error to offer an early mini-break this time and Wawrinka took hold by jumping to a 4-1 lead.

After changing ends, Federer pulled off a perfect backhand drop volley even on the stretch to remain in touch at 3-4. But the 32-year-old sailed another forehand long to offer three set points to Wawrinka. Federer saved two, the second with an ace, but Wawrinka put away an easy overhead to seize the momentum and force the match into a decider.

The four-time finalist courted trouble in the first game of the third set, surrendering the break to his belligerent compatriot. By now, Wawrinka had already opened up some old but gnawing wounds by pushing Federer relentlessly on the backhand side. The signs were ominous for Federer, and very promising for Wawrinka.

Wawrinka pushed his illustrious compatriot up the wall to gain another break in the third game and a stranglehold over the match. At 4-0 to Wawrinka, the final rites were not long away as he marched inexorably towards his first Masters title.

At 5-2, Wawrinka was poised for a memorable victory and Federer helped him gain two championship points when he struck a backhand wide. On the next point, Wawrinka added the Monte Carlo title to his resume with a stinging inside-out forehand winner.

The numbers told the tale – there wasn’t much between the two on the shorter points, but Wawrinka won 12 of the 18 points that stretched past nine strokes, many at important junctures in the contest. Also, Wawrinka had a net differential (winners – errors) of -1, while the figure was a debilitating -19 for Federer.

The victory for Wawrinka surely must have meant far more than metal and points, but the $549,000 cheque shall ease the celebrations on his pocket and the 1,000 Emirates ATP Ranking points shall secure his position at No. 3 in the world for a little longer. Federer had to be content with $269,150, 600 Emirates ATP Ranking points and his fourth silver plate in Monte Carlo.