Stan Wawrinka: Ways to go before ‘big four’ berth

French Open winner Stan Wawrinka poses with the Musketeers Trophy. Picture: Getty

Djokovic was strong favourite to clinch his first title at Roland Garros and complete a career Grand Slam but Wawrinka outplayed the world No 1 to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

It means a second Grand Slam success for the Swiss, who last year won the Australian Open to become only the second player since 2005 to lift a major trophy other than Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Murray is the only one of the “big four” Wawrinka is yet to beat this year after the 30-year-old knocked out Federer in the French Open quarter-finals and defeated Nadal last month in Rome.

His latest triumph over Djokovic was particularly impressive for the way he overpowered the Serb with a number of brilliant baseline winners, but Wawrinka believes he needs to be more consistent to join the elite.

“I’m trying [to be more consistent] at every tournament but so far it’s just me. I’m not as strong as the big four. They are winning everything,” Wawrinka said.

“But I’m strong enough to win some big title sometimes during the years.

“So I haven’t found the way how to play my best game every tournament but I’m still okay and satisfied with my career so far.”

Wawrinka added: “I’m not as good as they are, I mean the big four, but I’m quite good enough to win two Grand Slam tournaments.

“I can beat them in major tournaments – in a semi-final, in a final – but once again, the big four will always be the big four.

“I don’t want to be in comparison with them. I want to make progress and strides. I want to beat them. That’s all. It is as simple as that.”

Wawrinka’s victory follows a painful period off the court for the new world No 4, who announced in April he had separated from his wife.

The Swiss was also angered during the first week of the tournament when his personal problems were inappropriately examined in an official article on the French Open website.

“It’s important when you’re an athlete that you can put your mind on what you are doing,” Wawrinka said.

“You have to do some sacrifice. You have to work it out, you have to be relaxed in your mind.

“When you are practising and when you give everything, you have to try to focus on what you’re doing.

“I’m still surprised that in two months I can win the French Open because I wasn’t in good shape after Monaco (in April). It was a tough, tough moment for me.

“To say that now I won the French Open, it’s something completely crazy.”

Wawrinka will now turn his attention to improving his modest record at Wimbledon, where he achieved his best result last year by reaching the quarter-finals.

If he enjoys success in SW19, however, it is unlikely to be in the same garish pair of shorts, which attracted a lot of attention in Paris and which Wawrinka proudly draped over the table at his final press conference.

“I don’t think they will allow me to wear the shorts at Wimbledon,” Wawrinka said.

“Everybody has talked about the shorts since I put them on. I quite like them but apparently I’m the only one.

“I know a lot of people have talked about them and it’s quite funny that they won the French Open.”