It will a rematch of the epic 2023 Wimbledon final when Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic battle for another title, this time at the Western & Southern Open on Sunday afternoon.
Alcaraz scored a famous 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory for his first triumph at the All-England Club and his second at a Grand Slam overall (previously won the 2022 U.S. Open). Somewhat surprisingly, they have faced each other on only two other occasions. Alcaraz prevailed 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) in the 2022 Madrid semifinals before Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at this year’s French Open in a match that started on fire but ended up being ruined by Alcaraz’s leg cramps.
Alcaraz may have to worry a bit about his physical state on Sunday, as temperatures in Cincinnati are scheduled to soar and he has played nothing but three-setters this week. The 20-year-old Spaniard earned his spot in the championship match after going the distance with Jordan Thompson, Tommy Paul, Max Purcell, and Hubert Hurkacz–even saving a match point against Hurkacz.
“I feel good,” Alcaraz commented afterward. “Probably the people can think that I going to be tired in the final. But I feel good. It doesn’t matter if I play in third set, long matches; I’m recovering really, really well with my physio–with my team. I feel like I’m going to play the first match of the tournament. I feel great.”
Djokovic has endured no such issues at his first Masters 1000 event since Wimbledon. Wasting no time getting right back in action following the heartbreak in London, the 36-year-old Serb has advance in Cincinnati with straight-set defeats of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (via retirement), Gael Monfils, Taylor Fritz, and Alexander Zverev.
Outside of two cramp-impacted sets at Roland Garros, all three of the previous Alcaraz-Djokovic showdowns have been extremely competitive with–at least at times–brilliant tennis. Another fun one should be in the cards, but the edge goes to Djokovic because of his better level this week, superior physicality in what will be scorching-hot conditions, and the revenge factor.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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who ya got?
Zverev in the semis??
It is true that Alcaraz gets fired up against Djokovic, and he has the weapons to do it. But, Nole has been cheated out of 2 US Opens in the row. He gets fired up by avenging his mistreatments as he did in Australia and as he does when the crowd is against him. He certainly has the weapons and the experience to do it. But, he has 2 weak spots…his first serve and his drop shots. If Nole can dial in his firt serves and his drop shos he will win in 2. If either one of these are not at least 85% he will do it in 3. If he folters in both, Alcaraz takes it in 3. This would be a real shame because with this win Nole would guarantee, once and for all, an absolut goat status for many decades to come. It is likely that nobody will overtake his current records anyway as no other player has ever had the control over his game, mind, and body like Nole does. Alkaraz is the best talent player in the past 20 years. But, like Nadal, he will surcome to the injuries as his body begins to accumulate the abuse. Nole is the true Tesla of tennis!
Alcaraz isn’t beating Joker in this spot.