NOVAK Djokovic overcame a match point and stifling heat to beat world number one Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4) and win the Cincinnati Open in a heart-pounding thriller on Sunday.
Djokovic collapsed on his back and ripped his shirt open after triumphing in the nearly four-hour contest to get revenge for his loss to the young Spaniard in last month's Wimbledon final.
"So much to say and so little energy," Djokovic said while collecting his third Cincinnati Open title.
"It has been a roller coaster and definitely one of the toughest and most exciting matches that I've ever been a part of in any tournament.
"It did feel like a Grand Slam final, even more than that, to be honest."
The Serb was hobbled by the intense humidity in the tail end of the first set, barely moving when Alcaraz hit a backhand winner to grab the opener.
Alcaraz raced out to a 4-2 second-set lead and it appeared he might cruise to the finish line as his 36-year-old opponent looked cooked in the Ohio sun.
But Alcaraz would produce a poor service game while leading 4-3 that included four unforced errors to give life to the world number two.
In the second-set tiebreak Djokovic saved a championship point and went on to force a deciding set after winning a 25-shot rally.
During the break before the third set, a frustrated Alcaraz pounded his right hand against the plastic drinks container next to his chair, requiring a medical time out to tape his finger.
In the decider, Djokovic broke for a 5-3 lead but would then squander two match points in the next game.
The drama would continue when Djokovic missed an overhead for 5-5 and the players would ultimately arrive at another tiebreak, which Djokovic won on his fifth match point of the contest.
"It is going to be tough for me to talk right now but I tried to do my best," Alcaraz said.
"I want to congratulate Novak once again. It's amazing to play against you, share the court with you, learn from you. This match was really close but I learned a lot."
The win delivered Djokovic his 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown.
The tournament was Djokovic's first on U.S. soil in two years after he was barred from entering the country because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.
He will look to add a 24th Grand Slam trophy to his collection at the upcoming U.S. Open, which runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 10.
"Every one of our matches goes the distance," Djokovic said to Alcaraz. The pair are now 2-2 in their generational rivalry.
"Hopefully we can play in some weeks' time in New York," he said.
"That would be nice for the crowd, I don't know about me."
Reuters
Mon Aug 21 2023
The win delivered Novak Djokovic his 95th career title and 39th Masters 1000 crown. - REUTERS/Filepic
Lelaki ceroboh, serang anggota di Balai Polis Dato' Keramat cuba rampas submesingan
Cubaan seorang lelaki merampas senjata submesingan jenis HK MP5 milik seorang anggota polis di Balai Dato' Keramat di sini, gagal selepas dia berjaya ditangkap pada pagi Ahad.
Hannah Yeoh ucap tahniah pelantikan Nicol David sebagai Pro-Canselor Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
Menteri Belia dan Sukan Hannah Yeoh merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada Datuk Nicol David atas pelantikan ratu skuasy negara itu sebagai Pro-Canselor Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
Serangan udara Israel bunuh 20 orang, cederakan puluhan awam di tengah Gaza
Sekurang-kurangnya 20 orang awam terbunuh dan beberapa yang lain cedera pada Sabtu malam dalam serangan udara ganas Israel yang menyasarkan sebuah kompleks kediaman di utara kem pelarian Nuseirat.
Fahmi kecam tindakan mengugut Teresa Kok
Menteri Komunikasi, Fahmi Fadzil menjelaskan Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok telah membuat laporan polis berkaitan dakwaan menerima surat ancaman dan dua peluru.
Fahmi mengecam tindakan tersebut dan menyifatkannya cukup memalukan.
"Jangan diugut Ahli-ahli Parlimen kerana mereka adalah suara rakyat," jelasnya.
Fahmi mengecam tindakan tersebut dan menyifatkannya cukup memalukan.
"Jangan diugut Ahli-ahli Parlimen kerana mereka adalah suara rakyat," jelasnya.
OKU didakwa lakukan amang seksual terhadap remaja lelaki
Tertuduh didakwa melakukan perbuatan itu terhadap mangsa berusia 17 tahun di masjid berkenaan pada 2.30 petang, 15 Mac lepas.
Negara pesat membangun Asia Tengah berpotensi jadi rakan kerjasama strategik Malaysia - PM Anwar
Jaringan dengan negara-negara yang sedang pesat membangunkan itu amat penting dalam keadaan dunia yang tidak menentu hari ini.
Eksport mi segera Korea Selatan lepasi AS$100 juta buat julung kali dalam April - Kastam
Eksport mi segera atau "ramyeon" dalam Bahasa Korea mencecah AS$108.6 juta pada April, naik 46.8 peratus dari setahun sebelumnya.
Wai Ching takluk Menara Naza
Pelari menara nombor satu dunia itu jelas berada dalam kelas tersendiri sejak di awal saingan sebelum berjaya menawan menara setinggi 49 tingkat berkenaan.
Lebih 17,000 warga emas meninggal dunia sendirian di rumah
Satu tinjauan terkini oleh Agensi Polis Kebangsaan Jepun (NPA) menunjukkan bahawa 17,034 warga emas yang tinggal bersendirian telah meninggal dunia di rumah di seluruh negara itu.
AWANI Ringkas: Menteri ingatkan jangan ambil tindakan ekstrem
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Djokovic tewas peringkat separuh akhir Tenis Terbuka Australia
Novak Djokovic tumpas kepada pemain Itali Jannik Sinner di peringkat separuh akhir kejohanan Terbuka Australia.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'!
Djokovic sedikit terusik dengan kata-kata nista yang seakan cuba untuk merapuhkan semangat berkobar-kobar juara 10 kali kejohanan itu.
Piala Davis: Jannik Sinner bantu Itali julang kejuaraan pertama sejak 1976
Pemain nombor empat dunia itu menewaskan Djokovic dan kemudiannya Alex De Minaur pada hari Ahad untuk meraih kemenangan 2-0.
Djokovic menang jelajah akhir ATP ketujuh di Itali
Novak Djokovic memenangi kejuaraan Jelajah Akhir ATP ketujuhnya dengan penuh bergaya, menewaskan pemain tuan rumah Jannik Sinner.
Sensasi gelaran Grand Slam ke-24 Djokovic
Pemain Serbia itu menewaskan Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Tenis Terbuka AS: Daniil Medvedev kejutkan Carlos Alcaraz untuk ke final
Daniil Medvedev mencipta kejutan dalam Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Amerika Syarikat apabila menumbangkan juara bertahan Carlos Alcaraz.
Terbuka AS: Novak Djokovic ke final singkir wakil muda tuan rumah
Djokovic hanya dibezakan satu lagi kemenangan untuk menjulang gelaran dalam kejohanan utama buat kali ke-24.
Tenis Terbuka Amerika Syarikat: Djokovic masih berbisa
Pemain sensasi, Novak Djokovic berada dalam kelas tersendiri mara ke pusingan ketiga Terbuka Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Terbuka AS: Djokovic catat kemenangan, teratas ranking dunia
Novak Djokovic menewaskan Alexandre Muller 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 ketika kembali ke Terbuka AS pada Isnin malam sekali gus berada di kedudukan teratas ranking dunia.
Kejohanan Wimbledon: Djokovic didenda gara-gara hempas raket ketika tewas aksi final
Novak Djokovic didenda sebanyak AS$8,000 (RM36,280) gara-gara menghempas raketnya ke tiang jaring sewaktu perlawanan final Kejohanan Tenis Wimbledon minggu lalu.