Novak Djokovic needed five match points and nearly four hours to pull off a gritty victory over Carlos Alcaraz and claim a third ATP Cincinnati Open title on Sunday.
A titanic struggle between the world’s top two players saw Djokovic – who looked out on his feet in the second set – save a match point before coming through on his own fifth match point for a 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) triumph.
“It’s crazy, I don’t know what I can say,” said 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who was seen by the doctors early in the second set for heat illness in a battle that lasted three hours and 44 minutes.
“It’s tough to describe. It was the toughest I’ve ever played in my life.
“From start to finish we both went through highs, lows, incredible points, bad games, heatstroke, comebacks.
“Overall this was the toughest and most exciting match I’ve ever been a part of.
“It’s matches like these that I continue to work for.”
It was another epic chapter to the budding rivalry between 20-year-old top-ranked Alcaraz and the 36-year-old Serb star, who avenged his loss to the Spaniard in a five-set Wimbledon final last month.
The two – who have traded the number one ranking six times this year – are now level on two wins apiece in their head-to-head rivalry.
Djokovic, who earned a record-extending 39th victory at the elite Masters 1000 level, secured the first break of the opening set, sending Alcaraz sprawling as broke to love for a 4-2 lead.
A few minutes later, however, the Spaniard returned the favor.
Alcaraz then broke for a 6-5 lead then held to take the set before Djokovic left the court for a seven-minute change of clothes.
Djokovic, clearly affected by the hot, muggy conditions, was visited by the trainer and doctor in the second set. He was broken to trail 2-1, Alcaraz going on to take a 4-2 lead with a drop shot that Djokovic couldn’t touch. But the 23-time Grand Slam winner drew cheers as he broke Alcaraz to climb back in, leveling the set at 4-4 on the way to a tie-breaker.
Alcaraz had a chance to put it away, but Djokovic saved a match point at 5-6 in the tie-breaker. They went to a third set when Alcaraz dumped a shot into the net on Djokovic’s second set point.