Djokovic and Carlos Produce the Highest Level of Tennis Ever Witnessed In Cincy

You can agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter, but the superhuman tennis performed today in the Western & Southern Cincinnati Open final by Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz was the highest level I’ve ever witnessed. The final score was 57 76(7) 76 (4) for Djokovic, a task that needed three hours and 50 minutes to complete.

From a break down in the opening set, Carlos then ignited and rolled to a 75 first set win with shots that left Djokovic looking shellshocked, confused and even sickened. The thought entered my mind that Djokovic was done and he just can’t handle Carlos, the French Open win, his only previous win vs Carlos in three total meetings, wasn’t really conclusive as it seemed cramps did in the 20 year old dynamo who then turned the tables and outlasted the 36 year old in the Wimbledon final 64 in the fifth.

In the second set after a change of clothes break, Djokovic looked weary and uncomfortable, still struggling to get a handle on his foe’s game and mental fortitude, and ability to hit his best shots when losing.

Somehow Djokovic erased the early break and then later a championship point – with a very courageous serve and forehand strike. This set seemed critical for Djokovic, if he lost this second heartbreaker in a row to Carlos, he would probably never recover and never beat Carlos again. But Djokovic answered the challenge and won the thrilling, stunning, astounding second set tiebreaker 9-7.

The third set was impossible to predict. Carlos shook off his failure to bury Djokovic once and for all and began playing his best tennis again and also importantly, he regained his positive body language. And Djokovic also rose to the occasion, inspired to conquer this young tennis beast, quite possibly the greatest and most complicated challenger he’s ever faced.

It was Djokovic who edged ahead, earning three match points but Carlos miraculously saved them and broke back for 5-5. It was insanity, absolute tennis insanity, the shots each kept producing and provoking out of each other.

The stakes were enormous. Djokovic was fighting for career survival. If he lost again to Carlos, how could he ever believe he would beat him again, all the hard work to earn the match points only to fail? Carlos is a tennis Frankenstein monster who seemingly can’t be killed by Djokovic.

We have seen so many unforgettable tennis wars over the years but this one, for me, takes the prize. The 23 time Grand Slam champ vs the kid who they say is destined to win 30 or 40.

Djokovic jumped to a 3-0 lead in the final set tiebreaker but then the freakish defiance of Carlos somehow made it 3-3. The frenzy of tennis magic continued to Djokovic’s match point at 6-4. Djokovic served to the Carlos forehand on the deuce court and the aggressive return sailed well wide. Djokovic then fell down on his back flat, as if he just won Grand Slam title no. 24. He also ripped off his white and blue Lacoste polo, a celebratory and relief gesture he hasn’t done in years and usually only expresses after winning a hard fought Grand Slam final.

Djokovic even said moments later the win felt like a Grand Slam triumph.

“Crazy. Honestly, I don’t know what else I can say. Tough to describe. Definitely one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played in my life, regardless what tournament, what category, what level, what player. It’s unbelievable,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “From the beginning ’til the end we’ve both been through so much, so many ups and downs, highs and lows, incredible points, poor games, heat strokes, coming back. Just overall, one of the toughest and most exciting matches I was ever part of and these are the kinds of moments and matches that I continue to work for day in day out. I was never in doubt that I can deliver the ‘A’ game when it mattered the most and [I am] just thrilled.”

“This rivalry just gets better. It gets better and better. Amazing player. Tons of respect for him. For such a young player to show so much poise in important moments is impressive.”

Carlos also had high praise for his conqueror: ”It’s amazing playing against you, sharing the court with you, learning from you,” Alcaraz told Djokovic during the trophy ceremony. “This match was really close, but I learned a lot from a champion like you. So congratulations to you and your team.”

It’s the 39th Masters 1000 title for Djokovic and his 95th title overall.

In three weeks, Djokovic and Carlos will surely meet again for the US Open title. But it may not be humanly possible for these two marvels to play another match as awe-inspiring as what they did today.

Carlos Alcaraz · Cincy Open · Novak Djokovic · Western & SouthernOpen

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