Spectacular Nole has dug deep to clinch a record-extending thirty ninth Masters crown.
Novak Djokovic saved championship level to down Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) on Sunday in Cincinnati for the ninety fifth title of his profession.
Alcaraz appeared in full management main by a set and a break, however the 23-time Grand Slam champion turned the epic match round to win his fourth trophy in 2023.
The 2 stars pushed one another to the restrict. Among the finest matches within the ATP Masters historical past lasted three hours and 49 minutes.
Novak broke first, within the sixth sport of the opening set, however Alcaraz responded with a double break to take it. The Belgrade native overcame a set and a break deficit, and escaped defeat within the second-set tie-break through which he saved championship level.
Though he couldn’t maintain the benefit he gained by breaking his rival within the seventh sport of the deciding set, Nole discovered his finest tennis within the essential moments to triumph. He reigned supreme within the third set tie-break to seal the thrilling victory.
“Loopy. Actually, I don’t know what else I can say. Powerful to explain. Undoubtedly one of many hardest matches I’ve ever performed in my life, regardless what match, what class, what stage, what participant. It’s unbelievable,” Djokovic stated in his on-court interview. “From the start ’til the top we’ve each been by means of a lot, so many ups and downs, highs and lows, unimaginable factors, poor video games, warmth strokes, coming again. Simply total, one of many hardest and most enjoyable matches I’ve ever been a part of, and these are the sorts of moments and matches that I proceed to work for day in day trip. I used to be by no means doubtful that I can ship the ‘A’ sport when it mattered probably the most and I’m simply thrilled.”
Match statistics: aces (2-11), double faults (5-5), winners (19-42), unforced errors (46-50), whole factors gained (133-128).
Along with his title run in Cincinnati, the Serbian star has come inside 20 factors of the 20-year-old Spaniard within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Djokovic is now 38-5 on the season. He has secured qualification for the season-finale Nitto ATP Finals, which he has gained six instances.
The match was Novak’s solely hard-court preparation for the US Open, which begins on August 28.
It is going to be Nole’s seventeenth look in New York, the place he lifted the trophy in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
Final 12 months, Novak didn’t take part within the US Open due to vaccination standing.
Images: Profimedia
