Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaras gave the public an unforgettable show in the final of the Cincinnati Masters. Djokovic scored a strong-willed victory by score of 5:7, 7:6, 7:6, regaining match points during the second set tiebreaker. Novak and Carlos demonstrated the highest quality of tennis on the court. Any of them could win the title, but at the decisive moment, Djokovic held his nerves better and avenged the recent loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
The account of the personal encounters of the Serbian and the Spanish was 2-2. Before our eyes, a new epic rivalry has already been born and is developing rapidly. Probably not too long given that Novak is 16 years older than Carlos. However, for the foreseeable future, Djokovic and Alcaraz will likely have to patch things up more than once in the deciding matches of major tournaments. Perhaps they will meet again in the final of the US Open in a few weeks. Tennis fans are clearly looking forward to this scenario.
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Cincinnati’s deciding game lasted 3 hours and 50 minutes. This is a record for the length of the Ohio tournament and the three-set finals of Masters series competition. On May 16, 2009, in the semifinals in Madrid, Rafael Nadal broke Djokovic’s stubborn resistance in 4 hours and 3 minutes – 3:6, 7:6, 7:6. Novak and Carlos are a bit short of the all-time Masters overall record, but they still have time to rectify the situation. In the “Helmets” of five sets, the longest is the final of the Australian Open, 2012 between the same Nadal and Djokovic, 5 hours and 53 minutes. Here too, Carlos and Novak have the potential to rewrite history. They could have already done it in Cincinnati if they had played up to five sets here. But save the new heroic battles for the Helmets.
The matchup between Djokovic and Alcaraz drew attention not only for the quality of the tennis, but also for the genuine emotions of both rivals. After the game, Carlos cried.
Carlos Alcaraz broke down in tears after the final of the Cincinnati Masters
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The Spaniard began his speech at the awards ceremony with the words: “It will cost me to speak.” However, Alcaraz found the strength to congratulate an opponent, in whose place anyone else would definitely collapse and lose.
“It’s amazing to play against you, to share the court with you, to learn from you. I learned a lot from a champion like you. Congratulations to you and your team”, said Carlos.
Alcaraz’s reaction to the loss may seem immature to some, but it’s too cynical an approach. The 20-year-old really wanted to defeat the tennis legend and came very close to it. Carlos missed a break in the second set and a match point in the tie-break of the same match when things seemed to be heading towards his next win. But Novak Djokovic played against him, a man who can never be written off.
“Carlos Alcaraz cries into a towel after losing a militant battle with Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati. This is a fine example of the galactic heart this child has.”
Carlos is crying. His brother is crying. I’m crying. What emotions in Cincinnati.
“I love that Carlos cries. First, he sincerely wants it. Second, he knows that he could win in the final. 99% of the players on tour would accept defeat calmly and think something like: “Well, okay, Novak is too good for me.”
“Carlos Alcaraz is crying. This boy is special. He will be one of the best tennis players of all time. Just a phenomenal kid. I like him”.
“Keep in mind that this guy is only 20 years old. And he smiled as the fans in the stands cheered for him.”
“The emotional release after a tough tennis battle never ceases to amaze. Alcaraz cries when Djokovic rips off his shirt and realizes that he will have to work even harder to continue beating Carlos. A fantastic and inspiring game from a mental point of view”, wrote the fans on social networks.
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Djokovic won his 95th career title in Cincinnati, including 23 Grand Slams and 39 Masters. Novak has surpassed Ivan Lendl (94 titles), but is still behind Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109). In terms of the degree of prestige of the trophies, Novak is clearly ahead of Federer and Connors, but why not aim for his overall record for the rest of their careers? Good motivation for Djokovic, although even without it, the Serbian makes it clear that he is still very hungry on the track.
The main obstacle in Djokovic’s path to superiority over Federer and Connors is Carlos Alcaraz. Novak understands this very well. He heroically won the final in Cincinnati. During the game, Djokovic struggled to overcome the hellish heat, but each time he mustered his strength and he kept fighting. After the win, the Serb collapsed on the pitch, then got up and, in overwhelming emotion, ripped his shirt.
Novak Djokovic tears off his shirt after the Cincinnati Masters final
Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
As one fan reasonably pointed out in the comment above, Djokovic did this because he realized the effort it would take to win every match against Carlos. In the third set, Novak missed four match points, including two on his missed shot at 5-4, but ultimately leveled Alcaraz in a tie-break.
Djokovic will not have easy rides in matches with the Spaniard, as is the case with talented, but not mentally strong enough representatives of the younger generation like Yannick Sinner, Holger Rune or Kasper Ruud. The third racket in the world, Daniil Medvedev, has a not-so-bad record against Novak (5-9), he beat the Serbian in the US Open-2021 final, but recently the Russian has not had enough stability, even in the ” favorite hard hats” of his. So only Carlos remains, who poses a threat on all surfaces, even, as he seemed before Wimbledon 2023, on grass that he finds uncomfortable.
Big-3 has sunk in the past, in tennis a kind of Big-2 has been formed against Djokovic and Alcaraz. Rafael Nadal is unlikely to play at a high level in his final season of 2024, and there is no question of restoring the Big Trio in canonical form, as Roger Federer has already retired. Carlos, in fact, replaced his compatriot Rafa as Novak’s main rival, which the Serb himself does not deny: in a press conference, he admitted that the Cincinnati final reminds him a lot of the decisive match with Nadal at the Australian Open. – 2012.
“There is so much to say, but so little strength. I want to express my respect to Carlos and his team. There are no words for all of us to express our admiration for what you do on the pitch. You are an amazing person and a champion. Many never manage to reach the heights they have reached in the last two or three years. And you never give up, oh my God. I really like that about you, but I wish you could make simple jokes sometimes (laughs). Spaniards never die, mind you (in response to the same remark by Carlos. – Approx. “Championship”). I already heard it. And I myself experienced it. This is one of the most difficult and interesting matches of my life. It looked like a Grand Slam final. And I hope that in a few weeks we will meet in the final in New York. It would be great. For viewers. Maybe not for me,” Djokovic said after the final.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at the awards ceremony after the final of the Cincinnati Masters
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Novak, albeit with a bit of humor, made no secret that Alcaraz exhausted him in order and considers the Spaniard the most serious threat on his way. Djokovic, 36, is intrigued by the upcoming clash with the Spaniard. This is the best challenge for him at the end of his career.
It’s good that Novak has such an irritant (in the positive sense of the word), otherwise the Serb would risk losing motivation and could follow the advice of his parents – to quit tennis in the next year and a half. Having a rival like Carlos will make Djokovic work harder and extend his sporting life to the delight of all tennis fans.
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Ordinary fans are delighted with the final in Cincinnati and are already looking forward to new battles between Djokovic and Alcaraz. Former tennis players and current tennis players share his opinion.
“Novak!!!” Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, wrote briefly, accompanying the message with an enthusiastic emoji.
“Crazy tennis. Novak Djokovic, thank you for bringing back such vivid memories. Carlos Alcaraz, thank you for the next 15 years. Not just for the roller coaster in Cincinnati. Unbelievable,” said former British tennis player, now pundit Mark Petchey.
“Best Novak comeback of all time. I didn’t think he could make a difference after losing the first set, falling behind at the break in the second set, and struggling with heat stroke. What a champion, what a performance. How did he make a comeback?” enthuses former British tennis player Greg Rusedski.
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“OMG!!!” The Italian Matteo Berrettini responded shortly.
“I know everyone will yell at me, but enough! Can you imagine if they had to play two more sets!? Finished in three, and it’s good! Renee Stubbs, former trainer of Serena Williams, commented.
What can you say briefly about the results of the Master’s degree in Cincinnati? I would like to see a new meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz as soon as possible. Preferably in the final of the next US Open.
