Novak Djokovic conquered a match point and intense heat to defeat world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4), securing victory at the Cincinnati Open in a gripping showdown on Sunday.
Following the nearly four-hour battle, Djokovic jubilantly fell onto his back and tore off his shirt, marking his triumphant third Cincinnati title and sweet revenge after his previous defeat to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final just last month.
“Out of all the matches I’ve played across tournaments, this ranks as one of the most thrilling,” remarked Djokovic, the holder of an unprecedented 23 Grand Slam titles, during the trophy presentation following the match. “It gave me the sense of a Grand Slam.”
Enduring temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, the 36-year-old Djokovic persevered through the longest men’s match in the tournament since at least 1990, securing the distinction of becoming the oldest male champion. Notably, Ken Rosewall was 35 when he clinched victory in 1970.
Clocking in at 3 hours and 49 minutes, this match etched its place in history as the lengthiest best-of-three set final in ATP tour records (dating back to 1990).
Towards the latter part of the first set, the Serbian athlete appeared constrained by the intense humidity, exhibiting limited movement as Alcaraz delivered a backhand winner to claim the opening set.
Remaining remarkably energized despite spending over 10 hours on the court throughout the week, Alcaraz surged ahead with a 4-2 advantage in the second set, giving the impression that the Spanish sensation might effortlessly secure victory.
However, Alcaraz encountered a disastrous service game while maintaining a 4-3 lead, plagued by four unforced errors that breathed new life into the world No. 2.
In the second-set tiebreak, Djokovic thwarted a championship point, subsequently propelling himself to a deciding set triumph after emerging victorious in a 25-shot rally.
In the intermission before the third set, an exasperated Alcaraz forcefully struck his hand against the nearby plastic drinks container, leading to a medical timeout for finger taping.
In the ultimate set, Djokovic capitalized on his fifth opportunity to break, attaining a 4-3 advantage.
The suspense unfolded further as Djokovic let slip two match points while serving at 5-3.
Alcaraz thwarted an additional pair of match points and managed a service break when Djokovic’s overhead shot went awry, leveling the score at 5-5.
Ultimately, the contenders found themselves in yet another tiebreak, which Djokovic clinched when the 20-year-old’s forehand return strayed wide.
This victory marked Djokovic’s 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 championship.
“I have so much to say, but I’m not sure that I have the energy,” Novak Djokovic shared while cradling his trophy. He paused, directing his attention to Alcaraz.
“You never give up, do you?” he remarked. “I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun — well, for the fans, not for me.”
The US Open is scheduled to commence on August 28. Alcaraz, the reigning champion, is set to retain his No. 1 position leading into the tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz commented, “The match was pretty close.” “I’ll be back.”
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