Novak Djokovic survives ‘toughest match I’ve ever played’ to beat Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati Open final
- The 23-time grand slam champion edges longest best-of-three set final in ATP Tour history after three hours and 44 minutes
- ‘From start to finish we both went through highs, lows, incredible points, bad games, heatstroke, comebacks,’ Djokovic says
Novak Djokovic needed five match points and nearly four hours to pull off a gritty victory over Carlos Alcaraz and claim a third ATP Cincinnati Open title on Sunday.
A titanic struggle between the world’s top two players saw Djokovic – who looked out on his feet in the second set – save a match point before coming through on his own fifth match point for a 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) triumph.
“It’s crazy, I don’t know what I can say,” said 23-time grand slam champion Djokovic, who was seen by the doctors early in the second set for heat illness in a battle that lasted three hours and 44 minutes.
“It’s tough to describe. It was the toughest I’ve ever played in my life. From start to finish we both went through highs, lows, incredible points, bad games, heatstroke, comebacks.
“Overall this was the toughest and most exciting match I’ve ever been a part of. It’s matches like these that I continue to work for.”
It was another epic chapter to the budding rivalry between 20-year-old top-ranked Alcaraz and the 36-year-old Serb star, who avenged his loss to the Spaniard in a five-set Wimbledon final last month.
