After Carlos Alcaraz fell just short of winning the Western & Southern Open final Sunday against Novak Djokovic, he gave an emotional speech to the Cincinnati crowd.

Later on when the Spaniard had a moment to reflect on his defeat, the 20-year-old realised that win or lose, he helped create a special moment in tennis history.

“I feel proud of myself, honestly. I [was] talking and I don’t know why I was crying because I fought until the last ball. I almost beat one of the greatest of all time from our sport,” Alcaraz said in his press conference. “It’s crazy to talk about it right now, but I left the court really, really happy [with] what I did.”

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The World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings was in control for a good portion of the match. Leading by a set and 4-2, he was two service holds from lifting the trophy. Even after letting slip his service break, he earned a championship point in the second-set tie-break.

But instead of rueing the chances he missed, Alcaraz credited his opponent, who is now a 39-time ATP Masters 1000 champion.

“Today was really, really difficult playing against Novak. He always put almost five, six, seven balls in [the court] every point. So fighting and running from one corner to other one every point is really tough to deal with almost the whole match,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to stay there, to stay good physically, but it was tough.

“As I said, I left everything on court. For me, obviously it’s great that he knows that every time he’s going to play against me, reminds him playing against Rafa or against the best ones because that means we are in a good path.”

Even after Djokovic battled back to force a decider and then pulled ahead in the third set, Alcaraz did not give up. The Spaniard saved 12 of the 13 break points he faced in the final set to keep the match close and eventually force a tie-break.

On many of those pressure points, Alcaraz played without fear, throwing in gutsy serve-and-volley plays and generally taking risks.

“It’s something I feel comfortable playing, serve and volley, sometimes. Of course, in that moment I was seeing that from the baseline, for me it was even tougher to win a point. So I decided to do serve and volley. My coach told me the same from the stands. ‘Go to the net. Go to the net’,” Alcaraz recalled. “I was seeing that it was working, so I decided to do it more often in the third set because, as I said, physically I was on the limit.”

Immediately after the match, Djokovic raved about Alcaraz’s performance and declared the match  “one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played in my life”. Alcaraz was happy to hear those kind words from the champion.

“For me it’s great to hear that things from Novak, [who] has played iconic matches, storied matches. He said some matches against me were [some] of the toughest that he has played, it’s great. That means that my team and myself, we are doing the great work, we are in a good path,” Alcaraz said. “[Because of] matches like this one, we know that we have to still work in the same way that we are doing.”

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz treated fans across the globe to a gruelling battle Sunday in the Western & Southern Open final. Yet only one man could lift the trophy in Cincinnati. After nearly four hours of excitement, in which Djokovic saved a championship point, the Serbian collected his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 title.

The instant classic even had the 23-time major champion Djokovic taken aback.

“It’s a crazy match that we’ve been through today. Roller coaster of a match,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “I don’t think I’ve played too many matches like this in my life.

“Maybe I can compare it to [against] Nadal at the 2012 Australian Open that went the distance. Obviously three sets today, but almost four hours. One of the most exciting and toughest mentally, emotionally, physically matches that I’ve ever had in my career.”

Djokovic and Alcaraz toiled for three hours, 49 minutes before the Serbian avenged his recent Wimbledon final loss to the Spaniard and levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

Across their four contests, Djokovic and the World No. 1 have produced must-watch matches for any sports enthusiast, not just tennis fans. Still early in their budding rivalry, Djokovic expects many more clashes with the 20-year-old.

“You just have to put your hats down to a guy like that, who plays so maturely, handles the pressure so well for a 20-year-old,” Djokovic said. “We cannot forget how young he is. That’s something that is so impressive about him. The feeling that I have on the court reminds me a little bit when I was facing Nadal when we were at our prime of our careers. Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle.

“Amazing to be able to experience that with him on the court. It just keeps getting better for the fans. For us, I don’t know if we are enjoying it so much. It’s definitely a challenge that we both need to embrace and accept because that’s what’s required from both of us in order to win big titles.”

With his 95th tour-level title, the 36-year-old Djokovic became the oldest Cincinnati champion in the Open Era. A pivotal moment came when Djokovic bounced back after being broken while serving for the match at 5-4 in the decider. The World No. 2 stayed focussed, finishing the longest best-of-three final in ATP Tour history (since 1990) in a third-set tie-break.

“I was tight, no doubt about it,” Djokovic said. “When you’re facing one of the best players in the world, one of the biggest tournaments in the world, of course you can’t always feel completely free in your mind to do whatever you want to do, right?

“You’re going to experience those kind of moments where you’re going to drop with the concentration, energy, whatever it is. You just have to try to work your way out from that situation. Overall an incredible match with some really highs and really lows.”

Djokovic’s fourth title of the season moves him to 38-5 on the year, having also won Adelaide 1, the Australian Open and Roland Garros. The Serbian will enter the US Open just 20 points behind Alcaraz in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz leaves Cincinnati as the No. 1 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But when Novak Djokovic defeated the Spaniard in an unforgettable Western & Southern Open final on Sunday, the Serbian put himself in prime position to reclaim World No. 1 at the US Open.

According to the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Alcaraz now leads Djokovic by only 20 points. Because the 20-year-old will be defending 2,000 points at the season’s final major compared to none for Djokovic, who did not play the event last year, the 36-year-old is the overwhelming favourite to leave Flushing Meadows in the top spot.

Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings

All the Serbian needs to do in New York to guarantee his return to World No. 1 is win his first-round match, putting a return to top spot completely in his hands during the coming fortnight.

The reason Djokovic has such a big opportunity is because he managed to rally from a set and a break down against Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final. The result caused a seismic shift in the battle for World No. 1, tilting 800 points in the 39-time ATP Masters 1000 champion’s favour. 

If Alcaraz converted his championship point in the second-set tie-break, he would have departed the Lindner Family Tennis Centre with a 820-point advantage in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Instead, he is on the verge of losing his position.

Had Alcaraz won the final, Djokovic would have needed to reach the US Open final to be guaranteed of a return to World No. 1. Instead, he just needs to avoid a first-round upset. The Serbian has not lost in the first round of a major since the 2006 Australian Open.

Djokovic’s victory set the stage for an epic battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honours over the final three months of the season. In the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, which is a barometre for the year-end No. 1 battle, Alcaraz leads Djokovic by 510 points. 

The reason Alcaraz has a longterm advantage is that he did not compete in last year’s Nitto ATP Finals, while Djokovic swept his way to the title and 1,500 points. But with up to 2,000 points up for grabs at Flushing Meadows, there is plenty of room for movement.

Djokovic might not return to World No. 1 Monday, but he did make the ongoing battle for the top of the men’s tennis mountain even more interesting.

Fast-rising American Alex Michelsen claimed his first pro hard-court win after powering through the third set to defeat Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0 on the opening day of the Winston-Salem Open on Sunday night.

After dropping the second set in a tie-break, Michelsen was untouchable in the third, dropping just two points on serve and converting three of the four break point opportunities he earned. For the match, the 18-year-old fired seven aces and won 83 per cent of points on his first serve.

“I just locked in and didn’t miss too many balls towards the end,” Michelsen said. “It was one of the best sets I have played in a while. I was feeling a little tired after the second set but after I broke I found some energy and it was all good.

“I’ve seen him play before and he made the fourth round of the French, so he’s very good and competes really well. When I was up a set and a break in the second I knew it wasn’t over.”

Michelsen, who reached the final in Newport on grass in the week after Wimbledon, is making his first appearance since a first-round loss to Maxime Cressy at the Atlanta Open.

With Sunday’s win Michelsen climbed five places to No. 133 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. He next faces 15th seed, Austrian Sebastian Ofner.

Michelsen’s fellow California native Brandon Nakashima also earned an opening-round victory Sunday when he moved past Jason Kubler 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(3). The 22-year-old won 54 per cent of points behind his second serve, compared to his opponent’s 42 per cent, to end his three-match skid.

The 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Nakashima will next meet seventh seed Arthur Fils. The Frenchman defeated Nakashima earlier this year in Lyon, where Fils went on to capture his maiden tour-level title.

Novak Djokovic extended his lead in the ‘Big Titles’ race on Sunday when he rallied from a set and a break down and saved championship point against Carlos Alcaraz to win the Western & Southern Open. The Serbian extended his ATP Masters 1000 titles record to 39.

Just one month after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic bounced back to earn revenge against the Spaniard in the Cincinnati final. The 36-year-old now owns 68 ‘Big Titles’, which are Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.

Djokovic has won one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.2 events played (68/215). He is nine trophies clear of his nearest rival, Rafael Nadal (59, 3.5). Roger Federer, who retired at last year’s Laver Cup, won one Big Title for every 4.4 events contested (54/240).

The 36-year-old is the only player who has won all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. With his victory in Cincinnati, Djokovic has triumphed at all the Masters 1000 events at least three times except for Monte-Carlo, where he has emerged victorious twice.

Djokovic is now three Masters 1000 titles clear of Nadal (36). They are the only two players who have claimed at least 30 crowns at the elite level since the introduction of the series in 1990. Djokovic owns a 394-86 record at Masters 1000 events, winning at least one title at the level in 12 of the past 13 seasons.

Current and Former Champions’ Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker’s four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg’s three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang’s one Grand Slam title came before 1990

Novak Djokovic has dug deep, saving a championship point to force a deciding set against Carlos Alcaraz in the Western & Southern Open final.

World No. 1 Alcaraz seemed in full control leading by a set and a break, and was two holds from capturing his third ATP Masters 1000 trophy of the season. Djokovic appeared to be struggling with the intense Cincinnati heat and was unable to find an answer to turn the tide.

But one sloppy service game from the top seed opened the door and Djokovic stormed through it. The 38-time Masters 1000 champion snapped into high gear and after saving championship point at 6/7 in the tie-break with a big forehand, levelled the match, 5-7, 7-6(7).

It is the pair’s third Lexus ATP Head2Head showdown in just more than two months. After Djokovic triumphed in the Roland Garros semi-finals, Alcaraz earned his revenge in a memorable five-set Wimbledon final. Djokovic is trying to strike back, and both men have saved match point in the tournament — Alcaraz staved off defeat against Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals.

The opening set was a tense start to a highly anticipated championship clash. Over 62 minutes, both men worked their way into the match and each had opportunities to take the advantage. But despite trailing 2-4, Alcaraz stormed back to earn the lead.

On a hot day, both stars quickly used ice towels to try to keep themselves cool during changeovers. For the first eight games of the match, rallies were almost entirely played from the baseline, with the players trying to find their range from deep in the court. Neither truly was at his very best.

Alcaraz often varied the height he hit over the net, but was unable to take advantage of early openings with errors off his typically devastating forehand wing.

But as the set wore on, Alcaraz began to find his range on the backhand, while Djokovic hit one neutral backhand that bounced before the net. After getting back on serve, Alcaraz earned the deciding break of the set by rushing the 36-year-old’s forehand.

Leading to the final, Alcaraz needed a deciding set in all four of his matches, while Djokovic did not lose a set. But it was the latter who had difficulty with the hot conditions by the end of the first set. As Alcaraz found his game, he was unable to click through the gears and instead began making unforced errors and was unable to take the initiative in rallies.

Did You Know?
This is the first time since 2012 the top two players in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings are meeting in the Western & Southern Open final.

Zhang Zhizhen overcame fierce resistance from Ilya Ivashka to notch a first-round victory Sunday at the Winston-Salem Open.

The World No. 62 Zhang prevailed 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 against Ivashka on his debut at the hard-court ATP 250 in North Carolina. The Chinese kept his cool impressively despite letting slip 11 set points in a remarkable second set, ultimately claiming it in a tie-break before accelerating through the decider for a two-hour, 22-minute victory.

“It was a very tough match,” said Zhang in his on-court interview. “At the beginning he was playing very well. Even though he lost the second set in the end he was fighting back, and I’m just happy to survive in the end.”

Ivashka lifted his only ATP Tour title in Winston-Salem in 2021 and came out confidently in Sunday’s clash at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex. However, despite dropping the opening set and repeatedly failing to close out the second, Zhang assumed control of the match. Ivashka fended off eight set points alone to hold for 5-5 in the second set but Zhang’s persistence ultimately told.

“I think in the first set I was playing too rushed. In the second set I was a little bit more patient, so I tried to take the match longer, so I would have a chance,” said Zhang. “I thought if the match went long, then I had a chance for sure, so I just tried to play as long as I could and see.”

After outhitting Ivashka by 36 winners to 30, Zhang’s next test in North Carlolina is a second-round clash with 14th seed Marton Fucsovics.

Other winners on Day 1 in Winston-Salem included Benjamin Bonzi and Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Bonzi defeated his fellow Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-4 to advance to face third seed Sebastian Korda, while Argentina’s Cerundolo held off Roman Safiullin 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3. He next plays 10th seed Yannick Hanfmann.

For the second time in two days, Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the Western & Southern Open. This time around, it earned the Argentine duo its maiden ATP Masters 1000 triumph.

Gonzalez and Molteni saved championship point to down Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 3-6, 6-1, 11-9 on Sunday in Cincinnnati for the biggest title of their careers. Having also saved two match points in their semi-final win against second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, it capped an emotional weekend for the unseeded pair, which has now won a Tour-leading five titles in 2023.

“It means a lot. We have worked very hard for many years, not only this year, so it’s a great accomplishment,” said Molteni. “It was a very tough week, final, everything, so we are very happy with this title. It’s the biggest title we have, so we are very happy.”

Argentina all-stars 🇦🇷🏆

Gonzalez/Molteni save Championship point for a captivating 3-6 6-1 11-9 triumph over Murray/Venus@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SHZrQxxoE1

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 20, 2023

Gonzalez in particular thrived under pressure at the tailend of the 84-minute final. The 40-year-old sent down a second-serve ace when facing championship point at 8/9 in the Match Tie-break, and two points later he struck the decisive return off a Venus serve as the pair improved to 5-0 in tour-level finals for the year.

“They started better than us, but we always keep fighting,” said Gonzalez. “We know each other, we know we are a team that fights for every ball. We knew we would have a chance, and we took it in the second set. We are used to playing Match Tie-breaks, and we are really, really happy for this title.”

With their title run in Cincinnati, Gonzalez and Molteni have risen seven spots to third in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. The pair is now 32-14 in 2023, with their latest triumph a significant boost as both Gonzalez and Molteni chase a debut appearance at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

“I think [it helps that] we can practise together in our home, Buenos Aires,” said Molteni. “We have a very good relationship. We are friends, so that is easier during the season, travelling all the weeks together. We have a good atmosphere between us. I think that’s the key for playing good on the court as well.”