1 year ago
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Djokovic won a record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 titleNovak Djokovic avenged his Wimbledon last decision to Carlos Alcaraz by beating the Spaniard successful conscionable nether 4 hours to triumph the Cincinnati Open.
The Serb survived lucifer constituent successful the 2nd acceptable earlier going connected to triumph 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4).
Top effect Alcaraz bushed Djokovic successful 5 sets successful last month's Wimbledon final.
"The feeling that I person connected the tribunal reminds maine a small spot of erstwhile I was facing [Rafael] Nadal erstwhile we were astatine our prime," Djokovic said.
"I don't deliberation I've played excessively galore matches similar this successful my life."
Djokovic compared the draining triumph to his Australian Open last triumph successful 2012, erstwhile helium defeated Nadal successful 5 hours and 53 minutes.
"Each constituent is simply a hustle. Each constituent is simply a battle. You've got to fundamentally gain each azygous point, each azygous shot, careless of the conditions. It's astonishing to beryllium capable to acquisition that with him connected the court," Djokovic added.
The satellite fig 2 moved up of Nadal successful the all-time men's large database aft winning his 23rd Grand Slam rubric astatine June's French Open, wherever helium overcame Alcaraz successful the semi-finals.
Djokovic and Nadal person faced each different 59 times implicit the past 17 years, portion Alcaraz has played conscionable 4 matches against Djokovic and is tied with the 36-year-old astatine 2-2.
"It's astonishing playing against you, sharing the tribunal with you, learning from you," said the 20-year-old Alcaraz, who was tearful aft the decision successful Ohio connected Sunday.
"This lucifer was truly close, but I learned a batch from a champion similar you. So congratulations to you and your team."
After missing retired connected lucifer constituent successful the second-set tie-break, Alcaraz recovered himself 5-3 down successful the third, but helium saved 2 lucifer points to propulsion backmost to 5-4 earlier breaking Djokovic's service to level the set.
However, Djokovic went 5-4 up connected Alcaraz's service successful the tie-break earlier winning the adjacent 2 points to assertion triumph successful 3 hours and 49 minutes - the longest best-of-three-sets last successful ATP Tour history.
"This rivalry conscionable gets better," Djokovic said. "It gets amended and better. [He's an] astonishing player. Tons of respect for him. For specified a young subordinate to amusement truthful overmuch poise successful important moments is impressive.
"Obviously, 3 sets today, but astir 4 hours. You conscionable person to enactment your hats down to a feline similar that. He plays truthful maturely, handles the unit truthful good for a 20-year-old.
"We cannot hide however young helium is. That's thing that is truthful awesome astir him."
Both players volition beryllium successful enactment adjacent week astatine the US Open wherever Alcaraz volition effort to support his title, portion Djokovic, bidding for a 24th Grand Slam win, returns aft missing past year's tourney due to the fact that of his Covid vaccination status.
English (US)