An exceptional match, reversals of situation, outbursts of anger and powerful images to no end. The final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday in Cincinnati was of rare intensity. The Serb won the title by overcoming the Spaniard in four rounds by reversing a badly compromised situation.
Djokovic even looked close to exhaustion at times after the first set, calling in the medical staff, before losing serve early in the second. A huge frustration illustrated by this shot of anger addressed by the player to his staff from his chair during a change of side. We see the champion yelling in the direction of his camp who did not seem to understand him, visibly demanding that an energy drink be prepared for him.
Badly embarked, the man with 23 Grand Slam titles got up by snatching the second set 7-6, at the end of the suspense, 9 points to 7, before winning, offering the Cinncinati public a grandiose spectacle of four hours with Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic, who was making his big comeback to the United States after almost two years because of his refusal to be vaccinated, let his joy burst like rarely after the match point. The Serb simply ripped off his jersey right after the handshake at the net and a warm hug with his Spanish rival.
The latter also burst into tears in his chair, devastated when he had a match point in the second set, but he quickly found a smile at the time of Djokovic’s speech. It must be said that the “Nole” was not stingy with praise about him. “It was a roller coaster, one of the toughest and most exciting matches I have taken part in. I had the impression that it was a final of a Grand Slam tournament to be honest,” confided the winner before addressing his opponent. “I hope we can face each other in a few weeks in New York (US Open, editor’s note), that would be nice,” he added, provoking laughter from the audience with these words: “Boy, you don’t ‘never give up…Jesus Christ!’
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