By Richard Pagliaro| @Tennis_Now | Sunday, August 20, 2023
An exhausted Carlos Alcaraz shed tears after bowing to Novak Djokovic in an epic.
Afterward, Alcaraz mentioned the ache turned to satisfaction he felt pouring his ardour right into a match for the ages.
The 36-year-old Djokovic denied a championship level out-dueling Alcaraz in a dramatic 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) triumph within the Cincinnati last spanned three hours, 49 minutes.
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World No. 1 Alcaraz teared up after the match, displaying deep emotion thanking his brother, Alvaro, for his help.
“I really feel pleased with myself, actually. I speaking and I do not know why I used to be crying as a result of I combat till the final ball,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I virtually beat one of many best of all time from our sport.
“It is loopy to speak about it proper now, however I left the court docket actually, actually completely happy what I did. After all, I have been speaking with my coach, my crew, that we’re so, so pleased with ourselves.”
This rematch of the Wimbledon last exceeded the blockbuster hype escalating right into a rousing roller-coaster experience.
Djokovic, who rallied from a one-set 2-4 deficit and saved a championship at 5-6 within the second-set tiebreaker, dug in with defiance refusing to surrender floor.
Ultimately, the Grand Slam king praised Alcaraz’s combating spirit.
“The sensation that I’ve on the court docket jogs my memory a little bit bit after I was dealing with Nadal after we had been at our prime of our careers,” Djokovic mentioned. “Every level is a hustle. Every level is a battle. You are feeling such as you’re not going to get possibly in whole 5 free factors in the complete match.
“You have to mainly earn each single level, each single shot, whatever the circumstances.”
This riveting rivalry now stands deadlocked at 2-2 with each males—and far of the tennis world—hoping they sq. off once more on the US Open the place Alcaraz goals to defend his maiden main.
“In the present day was actually, actually tough enjoying towards Novak,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I imply, he all the time put virtually 5, six, seven balls in each level. So combating and working from one nook to different one each level is absolutely powerful to take care of it virtually the entire match.
“I attempt to keep there, to remain good bodily, but it surely was powerful. As I mentioned, I left every thing on court docket. For me, clearly it is nice that he is aware of that each time he’ll play towards me, reminds him enjoying towards Rafa or towards the perfect ones as a result of which means we’re in an excellent path.”
Photograph credit score: Michael Hickey/Getty
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