2023-08-21 00:45:04
“Playing Carlos in the final is a very good test before the US Open, even if it will be the best of five sets in New York. It’s facing the best player who is in great shape. This is the biggest challenge I can face,” said Novak Djokovic after his qualification for the final of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati. In terms of challenge, it has been served. And we’re not talking about the replay gone crazy showing the points it wanted when it wanted on the big screen in Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Well aware that he was not going to be able to afford a false start as in all these matches since the start of the tournament, Alcaraz was solid from the first exchanges. Despite the ambient heat and a feeling on the court around 38°, the Spaniard made the effort to hold the ball against the metronome Djokovic. The Serb was however the first to break, white, on the first opportunity of the match. But nothing was going to be easy for him since Alcaraz broke in stride. Visibly upset, Djokovic insulted his clan without restraint. Once again, we wouldn’t have wanted to be in the shoes of Goran Ivanisevic. Besides, the faces were closed in the box of the Serb. Maybe they sensed what was going to happen. Unable to maintain his level, Djokovic once again abandoned his service to an Alcaraz more motivated than ever. A marvelous backhand in a corner of the court offered him the first set. In these very difficult conditions, it was a significant advantage.
More and more precise and regular, Alcaraz quickly broke on one in the exchange of Djokovic to lead 2-1. With sunken eyes and a pale complexion, the world No. 2 then called in the doctor. On the verge of being unwell, he was clearly suffering from the heat. A tension grip later, he could continue the match, but seemed on the edge of the precipice.
As he began to become too often the disarticulated puppet he is when everything goes wrong, Djokovic was able to benefit from his what one could call naivety on the part of his opponent who did not know how to kill the match and conceded a break against the run of play (4-4). Djokovic could then benefit from the support of the public who wanted to see more. The “Nole” fell from the stands and Alcaraz found himself embarked on a type of match he had not seen coming. The showdown, already physical and tennis, became mental. As proof, a breathtaking tie-break where Djokovic saved a match point with an impeccable service followed by an untouchable forehand. And if he made the mistake on his first set point, he made Alcaraz too playful after a long backhand exchange. A set everywhere, the sequel could be epic or tragic.
To everyone’s delight, it was epic. In a standoff where the level never dropped a notch and where the two men tried to play well at the same time, Alcaraz saved four match points. The last being ruled out with a forehand missile that would have blown up any highway radar. Returned to 5-5 after 3:23 of play, he was still going to dismiss four break points in a game of 10 minutes. We could move on to the long-awaited tie-break. Alcaraz was going to be a little less sharp there. Djokovic, as always, rushed into the breach to conclude this anthology match which already inscribes the rivalry of these two men in the great stories of tennis. The Serb could tear his polo shirt with joy, the boss was back.
39
Novak Djokovic won his 39th Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati.
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