After losing the first set, the Serb prevailed against the world number one from Spain 5: 7, 7: 6(7), 7: 6(4).
Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament. After losing the first set, the Serb prevailed on Sunday (local time) against the world number one from Spain with 5:7,7:6(7),7:6(4). Djokovic fended off a match point, the duel lasted almost four hours. The 36-year-old managed to get revenge for the lost final against Alcaraz, who was 16 years his junior, in Wimbledon last month.
As in the Wimbledon final, Alcaraz and Djokovic fought a big fight at temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius – this time with the better end for the record major champion, although he was visibly upset in the great heat in the second set . In the tie-break he fended off a match point when the score was 5:6 and forced the third round.
More than a Grand Slam final
“It felt like a Grand Slam final, even a little more,” said Djokovic in the winner’s interview. Only the fifth match ball for the “Djoker” brought the decision. Alcaraz also fended off 13 of 16 breakballs against himself. There hasn’t been a longer “best of three” final on the ATP tour since 1990. “The bottom line is that it was the toughest and most exciting match I’ve ever played,” said Djokovic, who tore his body after the win.
With his 95th tournament victory on the ATP tour, he overtook Ivan Lendl and is in third place in this ranking – behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). For Djokovic, the dress rehearsal before the US Open was the first tournament in the USA since the final defeat in Flushing Meadows two years ago. Since then he has not been active in the country because he was not allowed to enter the country due to the regulations to combat the corona pandemic.
Alcaraz treated after outburst of anger
Alcaraz was annoyed after the lost tie-break in the second set, he hit his hand against a drinks box and then had to have his finger treated. After that, the Spaniard was humble, but also highly motivated for the future. “It’s fantastic to play against you, to share the space with you, to learn from you. This match was damn close, but I learned a lot,” he said to Djokovic. (APA)
2023-08-21 12:23:28
#Djokovic #wins #Cincinnati #Finals #Alcaraz
