Novak Djokovic needed five match points and nearly four hours to pull off an epic victory over Carlos Alcaraz and claim a third ATP Cincinnati Open title on Monday.
A titanic struggle between the world’s top two players saw Djokovic — who looked out on his feet in the second set — save a match point before coming through on his own fifth match point for a 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) triumph.
The tennis world was left in awe as the match took several dramatic turns after Alcaraz had looked in control while up a set and leading 4-2 in the second set.
Both players looked emotionally and physically shattered as they met at the net — but somehow they still had enough energy to have one charming exchange during the trophy presentation ceremony that showed their mutual respect.
“Boy, you never give up,” Djokovic said to Alcaraz.
“Jesus Christ. I mean, I love this about you, but I wish you would play some points like this.”
Alcaraz responded: “Spaniards never die”.
The Serbian’s response was a reference to his iconic battles with Spanish legend Rafael Nadal. “I’ve experienced this before,” he said.
Alcaraz was in tears when speaking to the crowd — prompting his brother Alvaro to also shed tears.
Tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on Twitter the world had never seen Alcaraz show so much emotion previously.
“I feel proud of myself, honestly. I don’t know why I was crying because I fight until the last ball,” Alcaraz said.
“I almost beat one of the greatest of all time in our sport. I left the court really happy with what I did.”
The 20-year-old unleashed everything he had at Djokovic and found it wasn’t enough.
“It was really, really difficult playing. Novak returns five, six, seven balls on every point,” Alcaraz said.
“So fighting and running from one corner to the other one on every point is really tough to deal with for almost the whole match.
“I left everything on court. I’m working very well. But today, it was tough to deal with everything that Novak had.”
The match had everything.
“It’s crazy, I don’t know what I can say,” said 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who was seen by the doctors early in the second set for heat illness in a battle that lasted three hours and 44 minutes – the longest best-of-three set final in ATP Tour history.
“It’s tough to describe. It was the toughest I’ve ever played in my life.
“From start to finish we both went through highs, lows, incredible points, bad games, heatstroke, comebacks.
“Overall this was the toughest and most exciting match I’ve ever been a part of.
“It’s matches like these that I continue to work for.”
It was another epic chapter to the budding rivalry between 20-year-old top-ranked Alcaraz and the 36-year-old Serb star, who avenged his loss to the Spaniard in a five-set Wimbledon final last month.
The two — who have traded the number one ranking six times this year — are now level on two wins apiece in their head-to-head rivalry.
The twists and turns of this one make it a candidate to be considered the best match of the year.
“This final is UNBELIEVABLE,” Morgado tweeted after Alcaraz broke Djokovic’s serve to level the match at 5-5 when the 23-time slam champ had been serving for the match.
The drama reached a crescendo in the third-set tiebreak when Alcaraz suffered hand cramps and was unable to hold his racquet.
Patrick McEnroe tweeted: “This is nuts”.
Djokovic, who earned a record-extending 39th victory at the elite Masters 1000 level, secured the first break of the opening set at love for a 4-2 lead.
Alcaraz broke back and broke again for a 6-5 lead then held to take the set before Djokovic left the court for a seven-minute change of clothes.
Djokovic, clearly affected by the hot, muggy conditions, was visited by the trainer and doctor in the second set.
Djokovic headed off to the locker room for another clothing change at the end of the set while Alcaraz pounded his right hand on his bench in frustration as he sat down.
The emotion poured out of Djokovic after winning match point.
A weary Djokovic dropped to the court in relief, then bounced up and ripped his shirt down the middle as he let out a roar of triumph or agony — or perhaps a bit of both.
“I was never in doubt that I could deliver the match when it mattered the most,” he said, adding that the rivalry with Alcaraz “is just getting better and better.”
“Carlos is an amazing player, I have tons of respect for him,” Djokovic said. “He is so poised at such a young age.”
Alcaraz will remain number one in the world and will be the top seed while defending his title at the US Open, which starts on August 28.
Djokovic, who declined to be vaccinated against Covid-19, was playing his first US tournament in two years
— with AFP
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