Last Setback of Australian Open: Wawrinka beats Nadal

Wawrinka beats Nadal to claim his maiden Grand Slam title

This year, Australian Open has been a competition of setbacks. As the days went by, top seeded players like Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Hewitt and Serena Williams, Sharapova, Azarenka, Ivanovic kept getting ousted from he race.

But the greatest setback was to come today when eighth seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka beat world no.1 and 13 Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal in a very uncompetitive match by  6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 and claimed his maiden grand slam. It was also his first Grand Slam title final.

Nadal (R) with the Australian Open winner Wawrinka and 14-times Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras pose during the prize ceremony at the Australian Open 2014 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2014. (REUTERS)

Nadal wasn't himself today right from the outset - his blistered hand deterred him to play the game everyone wanted him to. And so he lost the match with just one set to his credit. 

The 28-year-old becomes only the second Swiss man to win a Grand Slam singles title after 17-time champion Roger Federer. Wawrinka is also the first player in two decades to beat the world number one and two in a Grand Slam tournament and will move up to third in the world rankings from eighth. He also has the 'honour' of being the first to beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament.

Pete Sampras was there at the Rod Laver Arena to see his record of 14-Grand Slams being equalled for the second time - it was Federer who surpassed his record and continued to collect Grand Slams to a figure of 17. But it was unfortunate to see Nadal losing the opportunity right at the start of the new year.

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