By Richard Pagliaro| @Tennis_Now | Sunday, August 20, 2023
It was impressed. It was insane. It was intoxicating.
Novak Djokovic’s pulsating 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) overcome Carlos Alcaraz within the Cincinnati last spanned three hours, 49 minutes and can go down as a match for the ages.
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The 36-year-old Serbian celebrity saved a championship level at 5-6 within the tiebreaker then confirmed champion’s coronary heart and grit capturing his record-extending thirty ninth Masters 1000 championship and ninety fifth profession crown.
Afterward, Djokovic summed up a traditional conflict with the last word praise: It felt like a Grand Slam last.
“One of the toughest and most exciting matches I was ever part of at any tournament, definitely,” Djokovic stated in the course of the trophy presentation afterward. “It did feel like a Grand Slam final, to be honest, even more than that.
“Every match we play in opposition to one another goes the space so I hope we are able to play in opposition to one another in some weeks time. It can be good for the group not for me.”
“It did feel like a Grand Slam final to be honest.” @DjokerNole offers at present’s 5-star #CincyTennis last the very best marks… pic.twitter.com/wUQ4XKBTsJ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 21, 2023
This rematch of the Wimbledon last exceeded the blockbuster hype.
Giving up 16 years in age to world No. 1 Alcaraz, Djokovic seemed down and out down a set and 2-4, however summoned his warrior spirit to return again.
Seeing Alcaraz skid right into a sliding backhand passing shot down the road drew applause from Djokovic and reward after the match.
“What you’ve managed to do the last two three years is unbelievable,” Djokovic instructed Alcaraz. “Boy, you never give up man. Jesus Christ I mean I love that about you, but sometimes I wish you maybe a few points like this.”
“Spanish never die,” a smiling Alcaraz replied.
“Okay, good I’ve heard that before or I’ve experienced this before,” Djokovic replied.
Hopefully this exhilarating rivalry will resume on the US Open later this month.
Photo credit score: Western & Southern Open Facebook
Source: www.tennisnow.com