Cincinnati Masters final: Djokovic topples Alcaraz in another instant classic

When Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz step on a tennis court together at the same time, good things tend to happen.

Outside of two sets played by Alcaraz at less than 100 percent (at the 2023 French Open), they have waged nothing but instant classics against each other. That includes an epic 2022 Madrid semifinal (won by Alcaraz in a third-set tiebreaker) and the back-and-forth thriller that was the 2023 Wimbledon championship match (won by Alcaraz in five sets). The latest chapter came in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Sunday evening, and this time it was Djokovic who seized the upper hand.

Although it was only best-of-three match unlike the Wimbledon final, this one may have been the toughest of all–for both players. In sweltering heat, Djokovic came back from a set and a break down, saved a championship point, and then fended off a late surge by Alcaraz to triumph 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) after a ridiculous three hours and 49 minutes of play.

Trailing by a set and break while looking to be more impacted by the conditions than his opponent, Djokovic seemed to be on the way to a second consecutive loss at Alcaraz’s hands. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old Serb found a second gear that allowed him to break back and force a tiebreaker–during which he fought off championship point with a perfect serve-forehand combination. He soon won it nine points to seven.

That set the stage for a dramatic third, in which it was Alcaraz’s turn to come back from the brink of defeat. The 20-year-old Spaniard saved two championship points on serve at 3-5, improbably broke back for 5-5 after surviving two more championship points, and saved four break points in the 5-5 game to eventually play his way into another tiebreaker.

In the end, Djokovic had the upper hand of a few grueling exchanges midway through the ‘breaker and took it seven points to four.

“It’ was’s been a roller-coaster,” the world No. 2 said during the trophy ceremony. “Definitely one of the toughest and most exciting matches I have been a part of at any tournament–definitely. It did feel like a Grand Slam final, to be honest…. Crazy. Honestly, I don’t know what else I can say. Tough to describe.

“Every match we play against each other goes the distance, so I’m hoping we can play in some weeks’ time in New York.”