Novak Djokovic finally avenged his loss at Wimbledon 2023 as the Serb recorded a come-from-behind win over Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at the Centre Court of the Linder Family Tennis Centre in Ohio. (More Tennis news)
The Serb's win in the final of the Cincinnati Open left Alcaraz in tears, who at one point held a championship point. Djokovic truly showed why he's the best in business as the Serb fought back from four championship points off Alcaraz to romp home to a win in what was his 'toughtest test'. However, the defeat for Alcaraz was a painful one.
In a match that lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, the longest best-of-three sets final in ATP Tour history (since 1990), the No. 2-seeded Djokovic avenged his loss last month to the top-ranked Alcaraz and earned his 95th career title, passing Ivan Lendl for third among men in the professional era, dating to 1968.
Djokovic was playing his first tournament on U.S. soil in two years because of COVID-19 restrictions. He secured his third Cincinnati championship in six years on his fifth match point when Alcaraz went wide with a forehand return.
“This was one of the most exciting matches I’ve ever played in any tournament,” the winner of a men’s-record 23 Grand Slam titles said during the post-match trophy presentation. “It felt like a Grand Slam.”
The Spaniard was in tears after the game as he paid a heartfelt tribute to his team and his brother.
He said, "To my team, we are working really really hard to stay in this stage, to play these kinds of matches, these finals. I’m grateful to have a team like you guys, to work with you. I want to say thank you not only in the professional part, but even in the personal part you are a great example for me that I learn from every day so I want to say thank you to all of you. And then I have my brother here as well. It’s great to have you here, supporting me every day, to make me be a better person every day, learning from you as well. So thank you very much for being with me."
(With AP inputs)
