Alcaraz in tears after Djokovic loss as Serb comes by way of ‘hardest match’

Carlos Alcaraz was in tears at his bench after dropping an exhilarating three-hour-and-48-minute closing to Novak Djokovic on the Cincinnati Open. The world No 1 had a championship level within the second set and saved 4 within the third set earlier than he lastly went down 5-7 7-6(7) 7-6(4). Afterwards, Djokovic branded the ultimate “one of the toughest matches” of his profession.

Alcaraz and Djokovic contested one other thriller precisely 5 weeks after the Spaniard received their Wimbledon closing in 5 units. This time round, it was the Serb who got here by way of after struggling within the intense warmth early on within the match. Djokovic seemed down and out when he was a set-and-a-break down however managed to pressure a closing set.

He went a break up within the third however the prime seed additionally refused to go down with no combat, saving 4 championship factors throughout two video games and breaking Djokovic because the 36-year-old served for the match. But Alcaraz finally went out 7-4 within the closing set tiebreak and was in tears at his bench as he obtained modified, crying into his towel.

The two-time Major champion obtained emotional as soon as extra in his runner-up speech as he congratulated Djokovic and thanked his staff. “It’s going to be tough for me to talk right now but I’ll try to do my best. First of all, I want to congratulate Novak once again,” he began.

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