ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters: Stanislas Wawrinka beats Roger Federer in all-Swiss final

congratulates Stanislas Wawrinka after the Monte-Carlo final.

In the first all-Swiss final for 14 years on the ATP World Tour, Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 in the final of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

The 29-year-old Wawrinka captured his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, having previously finished runner-up in Rome 2008 (l. to Djokovic) and Madrid last year (l. to Nadal). With his semi-final victory over David Ferrer Saturday, the Swiss became the 11th active player to record 100 ATP Masters 1000 match wins.

Wawrinka is the 59th different winner of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, breaking up the domination of the ‘Big Four’. In 34 of the past 36 Masters 1000 tournaments, the trophy had been lifted by one of either Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Federer or Andy Murray. The only exceptions came at the BNP Paribas Masters in 2010 (Robin Soderling) and 2012 (Ferrer).
Read: How The Final Was Won
It was just Wawrinka’s second win in 15 meetings with Federer (2-13 FedEx ATP Head2Head series). His other victory over Federer also came at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, five years ago.
"Of course, I'm very happy for Stan," said Federer. "It's a huge win for him after winning his first Grand Slam this year, also to win his first Masters 1000. To take the opportunities when they're there, that's key in a tennis player's career. So I'm very happy for him."
As victor, Wawrinka received 1000 Emirates ATP Ranking points and $549,000 in prize money. He was presented with the trophy by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Victory for Wawrinka sees the Lausanne native maintain his grip on World No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. On Monday, he will leapfrog Nadal, Djokovic and Federer to rise to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Race To London, which is based solely on results this season.

The top eight in the Emirates ATP Race To London at the end of the regular season will qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Wawrinka qualified for the elite season finale for the first time last year, reaching the semi-finals (l. to Djokovic).

Wawrinka becomes the first player this season to win three tour-level titles, adding to victories in Chennai (d. Roger-Vasselin) and at the Australian Open, where he defeated Nadal to win his first Grand Slam championship.
The 32-year-old Federer was looking to win the elusive Monte-Carlo trophy for the first time after finishing runner-up to Nadal three times from 2006-’08. The Swiss has won 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, with his last triumph coming in August 2012 in Cincinnati.
"I think it's one of the those finals that I could have won," said Federer. "But Stan was tougher at the end. I think he deserved it just a little bit more. Clearly it would have been nice to win that second set tie-break. I didn't necessarily play a bad one, but also at the same time I didn't quite ever get into the lead where things went my way.
"I would have loved to have won a second title [this season] because I've come close a few times. That's my next objective, that I get to the very end more frequently. But clearly I'm happy that the clay court season started so well for me."
IN SUMMARY

• Stanislas Wawrinka captured his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over countryman Roger Federer at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Wawrinka was previously 0-2 in ATP Masters 1000 finals (’08 Rome, ’13 Madrid).

• Wawrinka won his ATP World Tour-best third title of the season and the seventh of his career. He also ended an 11-match losing streak to Federer. He came in with a 1-13 record vs. Federer and his other win came in Monte-Carlo in 2009. Earlier this season at the Australian Open Wawrinka snapped a 14-match losing streak to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and a 12-match skid to Rafael Nadal in the final.

• Wawrinka improved his match record to 20-3 on the season, including 6-0 vs. Top 10 opponents. He also is the season points leader in the Emirates ATP Race to London standings.

• It was the first all-Swiss ATP World Tour final since Marc Rosset defeated Federer in Marseille in 2000 and fourth all-countrymen of the season. Last Sunday there were two all-Spanish finals in Casablanca and Houston.

• Federer was appearing in his fourth final in Monte-Carlo after three straight runner-up showings from 2006-08, losing to Nadal each time.

• Federer was trying to win his eighth different ATP Masters 1000 title and 22nd overall. He is 1-3 in finals this year, winning his 78th career title in Dubai and reaching finals in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo.

• This was only the third time in the past 37 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (since 2010 Monte-Carlo) a title was won by some one other than the Big Four (Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray). It was also the second time in the past 30 tournaments (since 2011), a player outside the Big Four held the trophy.