Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka defeated world number one Novak Djokovic with a scintillating display to win his first US Open and third Grand Slam title.

Wawrinka, seeded third, won 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to add the US title to those he had already won in Australia and France over the last two years.

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka became the oldest US Open men’s champion in 46 years when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic to claim a third Grand Slam title on Sunday.

Third seed Wawrinka, triumphed 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 after almost four hours of high intensity tennis.

The final started with Djokovic quickest out of the blocks. Trailing 2-5, Wawrinka, who had spent the best part of nine hours more than Djokovic getting to the final, saved two set points.

But Djokovic glided untroubled through the tie-break as Wawrinka’s serve fell apart.

Wawrinka is used to chasing lost causes against Djokovic, coming back from losing the first set to win their 2014 Australian Open quarter-final and again at Roland Garros last year.

Calling on that expertise, he broke for 3-1 in the second set, recovered from handing the advantage back in the seventh to level the final when Djokovic unleashed a wild forehand on set point in the 10th.

Wawrinka saved three break points in the opening game of the third set, to take a 3-0 lead.

But Djokovic clawed his way back with a break. Wawrinka, however, kept up the attack and on set point in the 12th game slotted a backhand deep and into the corner which Djokovic could only push wide.

The world number one looked spent. He appeared to start cramping in the fourth set as he quickly slipped 0-3 down.

Much to Wawrinka’s irritation, at 1-3 Djokovic called the trainer and took a medical timeout for treatment for blisters. Djokovic apologised, claiming he needed attention as he couldn’t stand.

At 2-5, the trainer reappeared but Wawrinka saw the job through leaving Djokovic to finish a Slam runner-up for the ninth time. Wawrinka is the oldest winner of the men’s tournament since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1970 and the first over 30 to take the title since Pete Sampras in 2002.

It was the Swiss player’s first New York title, following his breakthrough 2014 Australian Open triumph and 2015 Roland Garros crown. On both those occasions, Djokovic had been the fall-guy, losing in Melbourne in the quarter-finals and ending as runner-up in Paris