Novak Djokovic Scores Revenge Against Carlos Alcaraz By Winning The Cincinnati Open

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz set up another exciting matchup in just 35 days after their 5-set clash at the Wimbledon finals. As such, this was a match many were looking forward to. It was indeed a match that did not disappoint as Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down, saving a Championship point, and winning two-tiebreak sets to claim the trophy over the Spaniard.

Djokovic came back from a set down and saved a championship point. © Matthew Stockman/ Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz was trailing behind Djokovic at 2-4 in the first set but managed to turn things around to win it. A few games into the second set at 4-3, Alcaraz lost focus on service and gave Djokovic a chance to bounce back and gain momentum. Soon it was 5-6, with Djokovic serving to stay in the match; it was a close call for Djokovic as he saved a championship point to bring the set into a tie-break.

Going into the deciding set, both players were focused until Novak broke Alcaraz at 3-3 for the fifth time in the match. Alcaraz kept up but was unable to turn the game in his favour even after saving 4 Championship points in the tie-break. 

Djokovic needed 3 hours and 49 minutes to rally past Alcaraz in 3 excruciating sets in the sweltering heat 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4). This match was also the longest 3-set match at the Masters-1000 level in the last eight years. Having won two tie-breaks in this match brings Djokovic's tie-break record this season to an impressive 24-5. 

This title marks Djokovic’s third at the tournament and the 36-year-old also became the oldest champion at the tournament, breaking the record set by 35-year-old Ken Rosewall. Novak is now a 95-time tour-level titlist and a 39-time Masters 1000 Champion. He will enter the US Open as the second seed with only 20 points behind the top seed Carlos Alcaraz and will be bidding to reclaim the top spot as Carlos seeks to defend his 2000 points at the Slam.