The suprise win of Stanislas Wawrinka over reigning world number one and heavy favorite Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open 2014 on Sunday was a significant one for the Swiss player. He will rise to a career high ranking of number three starting this week and at the same time, he has made significant records for achieving this feat.
Tennis stats guru Greg Sharko has posted the following records on Wawrinka’s win:
• Wawrinka is the oldest first-time Grand Slam champion (28) since Goran Ivanisevic (29) won Wimbledon in 2001
• Won his first Grand Slam title in his 36th career Slam tournament, second-most appearances behind Ivansevic (48)
• Jumps from No. 8 to a career-high No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and becomes the No. 1 Swiss for the first time
• First Australian Open champion ranked outside Top 4 since Thomas Johansson (18) in 2002
• First Grand Slam champion ranked No. 8 (lower) since No. 44 Gaston Gaudio at Roland Garros in 2004
• First Grand Slam champion beating No. 1 and 2 ranked players since Sergi Bruguera at Roland Garros in 1993 (d. No. 1 Sampras in QF, No. 2 Courier in F)
• First player to win his maiden Grand Slam title over a World No. 1 since Juan Martin del Potro at US Open in 2009 (d. Federer)
• Breaks streak of 16 straight Grand Slam titles won by Big 4 since Juan Martin del Potro won ’09 US Open (34 of past 35 Slam titles)
• First player to beat Djokovic and Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament. Wawrinka had lost 14 in a row to Djokovic and 12 straight to Nadal
• Defeated three Top 10 opponents in the same tournament for first time (No. 2 Djokovic in QF, No. 7 Berdych in SF, No. 1 Nadal in F)
• Third different player to defeat Nadal in a Grand Slam final, joining Djokovic (three times) and Federer (twice)
• Joins Roger Federer (17 titles) as second Swiss man to win a Grand Slam singles crown
• Defeated a World No. 1 for the first time in his career after 15 losses.
• Became the first No. 8 seed to win a Grand Slam title since Brian Teacher won the Australian Open in 1980.
