Novak Djokovic is back. The Serbian, after the emotional blow that the defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in his Wimblefon garden meant for him, was able to come back from a set in the Cicinnati final, 4-2 in the sequel and a match point, with 6- 5 in sudden death, to add his thirty-ninth Masters 1000.
Djokovic is so great that he already has 1,069 victories, one more than Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl. Ahead of him, only Jimmy Connors (1,274) and Roger Federer (1,251) remain.
Similarly, reaches 95 titles as a professional, one more than Lendl. The historical top that Connors left at 109 it no longer seems unattainable. Federer is second in that ranking with 103.
Djokovic prevailed in Cincinnati, with a favorable score of 5-7. 7-6(7) and 7-6(4), in 3 hours and 49 minutes. He fye the longest final ever in the Ohio contest.
The champion of 23 greats, at 36 years old, hits the table a week after the start of the US Open, the last great of the course and where a victory is worth it to recover the ATP scepter.
Ranking titles Era Open
Jim Connors 109
Roger Federer 103
Novak Djokovic 95
Ivan Lendl 94
Rafael Nadal 92
John McEnroe 77
Rod Laver 72
Alcaraz’s elasticity allowed him to make a split in the sixth game. It did not help him to avoid his rival’s first break. Djokovic was ahead 4-2 and service. The match statistics reflected 10 unforced errors by Carlitos to only four by the Serbian..
The emotional blow that the defeat in the Wimbledon final meant for Nole was seen immediately afterwards. Despite enjoying a favorable score, He delivered his serve and then the pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero equal to four with a blank game.
Djokovic, almost 16 years older than AlcarazAsk for towels with ice at each change. He had played five hours and 42 minutes less to reach the final but age does not forgive. The chair umpire penalized him with a ‘warning’ for delaying the service.
Novak yelled at his bench to the cry of jelly when he sat down with a favorable score of 5-4. He complained so much about his physical condition that he had to speak Marco Panichi, the physical trainer of the 23 great champion. He also spoke Spanish Carlos Gómez. “at your pace“, the marbell told him.
The second ‘break’ of the tennis player from El Palmar gave him the initial sleeve. He went after a down the line revs that ended with a yell of “let’s go.” To highlight the management manual that Ferrero offers from the band. “Ready and decision”, repeated ‘Juanqui’.
Djokovic, who was not generating anything, went to the locker room, a tactic he usually uses when he is behind on the scoreboard. The Murcian, with a low percentage of first serves throughout the American hard court tour, was above 70 percent effective.
His coach insisted on the importance of the first game of the second set. He fell in favor of the balcony, who received shy cries of support from the stands.
Alcaraz took the lead again with a third break. Facilitated by her opponent with three unforced errors. The 34 degrees did not help Djokovic, who requested the presence of the tournament doctor.
Carlitos lowered his guard for a moment and, when he realized it, the Serbian ogre had already equaled the final. He forced the sudden death when he gave in 4-2 and decanted it in his favor after raising a title ball with 6-5. It was with a winning right.
Cut on the finger
Alcaraz paid for his raba with the refrigerator and injured a finger on his right hand. He needed the presence of the physiotherapist to bandage himself Five games in Cincinnati and all to three sets. It seemed to ‘Nole’ that all the evils had gone away.
Djokovic’s face changed. Each game to the rest was a threat for the young Spanish player. Ferrero asked him for time from the band to recover. “It doesn’t matter if they call you a ‘warming'”, he yelled at her.
The Serb broke his opponent’s serve in the seventh round. Carlitos saved the first four defeat balls. Two with 5-3 and as many with 5-4. He could not with the fourth.
He is such a winner that he revived out of nowhere and tied at five. His technician smiled. The final was going to be decided in a ‘tie break’. The world number one noticed cramps in his right hand. She was trying to move it to mitigate them. I succumbed to a reborn executioner. For games like this, Novak is the best in history.
