By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday August 19, 2023
Novak Djokovic edged past Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati to set a rematch of the Wimbledon final.
Photo Source: Getty
Novak Djokovic’s unquenchable thirst for titles knows no limits, but there is another premier force by the name of Carlos Alcaraz on tour that also craves tour domination. On Sunday in the Western and Southern Open men’s singles final in Cincinnati those two forces will go head-to-head for the title.
Djokovic cleared his semifinal hurdle on Saturday, edging Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 7-5 a few hours after Alcaraz had saved match point to put down Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a thrilling three-set battle on Center Court.
The result?
The third Djokovic v Alcaraz clash of 2023, and the fourth overall. After waiting five months for Djokovic and Alcaraz to meet this season, the matchups have come quickly, with Djokovic knocking the Spaniard out of Roland Garros in a four-set semifinal before Alcaraz took his revenge on Wimbledon’s Centre Court with an epic 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory that had the tennis globe spinning on its axis.
Alcaraz locked up the No.1 ranking through the US Open on Saturday, and with it the top seed, but it will come down to Sunday’s heavily anticipated clash to decide who the true men’s singles favorite is when the US Open begins on Monday August 28.
Alcaraz holds the 2-1 lifetime edge, and Djokovic will want to keep the fast-rising 20-year-old from pulling away from him in the rankings and on the court. Expect an extremely focused 36-year-old on Sunday in Cincinnati, as he bids to become the oldest champion in tournament history while denying Alcaraz the right to call himself the youngest champion in Cincinnati since Boris Becker in 1985.
“It's amazing for the sport, No.1 and No.2 in the world facing each other again in the finals of a big event,” Djokovic said on court after finishing off Zverev. “This is what everybody wanted and expected at the beginning of the tournament, so here we are."
NOTES and NUMBERS:
Djokovic is bidding for his record 38th Masters 1000 title, while Alcaraz will play for his fifth. The Spaniard is undefeated in his previous four finals at this level.
Djokovic has tied Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl for third place on the ATP's all-time win list. He can take sole possession of third on the list with a win in Sunday's final.
Djokovic is bidding for his 95th ATP title on Sunday. Alcaraz is bidding for his 13th.
The Spaniard is the youngest Cincinnati finalist since Pete Sampras in 1991 and will bid to become the youngest champion since Becker in 1985.
Djokovic would surpass Ken Rosewall as the oldest Cincinnati champion in Open Era history and win his third title at Mason, Ohio (also 2018 and 2020).
Djokovic is 38-18 in Masters finals and 94-40 in finals overall.