If Novak Djokovic’s victory on Sunday at the Linder Family Tennis Centre in Ohio was a thrilling comeback victory, Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat in the Cincinnati Open final was brutal. Carlos Alcaraz had a championship point at one time during the match. And even though he fought off four championship points himself and lasted as long as he could in the match where Djokovic returned to his absolute best, he failed in the fifth attempt, allowing the Serb to get his Wimbledon revenge after coming through his “toughest test”. The loss, eventually, left Alcaraz crestfallen.
Only 35 days after a thrilling five-setter tie in the Wimbledon final at the SW19, where Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title against Djokovic, the two produced yet another thrilling contest, with the 36-year-old emerging victorious this time after struggling from a set and a break down amid his struggles in the intense Cincinnati heat.
Djokovic took an early break in the third set after saving a match point in the second set tie-break. But Alcaraz was not going down without a fight. He denied four championship points against Djokovic on his way to breaking back, however, the Serb kept his cool in the tie-break to win the match.