Wawrinka has nothing to lose here. He'll obviously be the underdog, and when you look at their H2H, not to mention the fact that Stan has yet to win a set, I am sure most people are expecting a customary win for Nadal. Then again, it is a Slam final and stranger things have happened. Stan seemed a bit tight in his semifinal match against Berdych - perhaps because he knew he was the favourite or he thought he could win playing within himself. I am hoping Stan comes out with a "live free or die hard" attitude and just plays risky, aggressive, anything-but-passive tennis. This is what he did against Djokovic and it proved imperative in his victory. If he does, perhaps he could trouble Nadal to a strong extent. In saying that, Nadal is freakish. As it is true he does not play the most alluring style of tennis, he is a beast who just will not let go. I'm sure he'll replicate the same type of tennis we saw in his match against Federer come Sunday. There is no way he'll be hitting those double faults or making those uncharacteristic errors like we saw in the QF. He is so clutch in the big matches.
Ultimately, this match is on nobody's racket. If Stan seizes the opportunity and tries to hit Nadal off the court, then we have a match on our hands. If he decides to play within himself and hope for the best, Rafa has got this in straight sets. Nadal seldom - if ever - adjusts his playing style to win a match. When things get tough, we never see any discernible changes in his game. If Stan can catch him by surprise and try and have a good night with that impeccable backhand of his, Nadal won't have many answers, tactically speaking, other than try to step it up himself. It is going to be an interesting match. Perhaps I am being too overt in my optimism, but I believe Stan has the weapons to trouble Nadal (not necessarily win, but trouble) - it's just whether he'll utilize them and whether he can execute them accordingly, which will always be difficult when you are in a Slam final.
I look forward to the match, regardless of the result. It's always refreshing to see a new face in a Slam final, especially one who has the weapons to trouble any of the guys on tour (unlike, say, Ferrer). Oh, and there is, of course, a bit of history on the line - Nadal attempting to be the only the second man in the Open Era to win multiples of every Grand Slam. My prediction: Nadal in 4.
Surely, Stan has a mountain to climb. But he's been climbing it all tournament, and most of the last year. Plus, he's Swiss…they know about mountains, and climbing them. I'd never underestimate someone who made the final.
