Looking Back, Djokovic Calls His Cincinnati Triumph One Of His Most Exciting

Novak Djokovic Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

Sunday’s Western & Southern Open men’s final became an instant classic. Three-hour-plus, three-set matches between the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world have a special way of elevating the sport. The latest installment of the Carlos Alcaraz–Novak Djokovic budding rivalry, won the 23-time major champion from Serbia in dramatic fashion, 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4), lasted three hours and 49 minutes. It took Djokovic five championship points to decide the outcome, which rewarded him with a record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 crown and his third Cincinnati Masters title.

Afterward, Djokovic had some time to reflect on winning his 95th career title, which passed Ivan Lendl for third most in the Open Era, and it was also his 1,069th career victory, which moved him into third place ahead of Lendl and Rafael Nadal.

“It’s a crazy match that we’ve been through today,” Djokovic said Sunday night in his victory news conference. “Roller coaster of a match. 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.”

That would be the five-hour, 53-minute epic that Djokovic won 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 to win the tournament. “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 said.

For the record, the Djokovic-Alcaraz Cincinnati final, finished as the longest best-of-3-set ATP Tour final since 1990. It rewarded Djokovic with his 38th win on tour this season in 43 matches and the Western & Southern title was the fourth of 2023 for the Serbian, to go along with earlier triumphs at Adelaide 1, the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

“I was tight, no doubt about it,” Djokovic admitted. “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 kinds 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 fro, that situation. Overall, an incredible match with some really highs and really lows.”

Djokovic, 36, had nothing but praise for the young Spaniard afterward.

“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.”

Halep dropped from US Open field

Because of a provisional doping suspension, two-time major champion and former No. 1 Simona Halep of Romania has been “automatically withdrawn” from the US Open draw.

The U.S. Tennis Association made the announcement Monday in conjunction with the revealing of the singles qualifying draw. During a provisional suspension, a player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned events.

Halep’s spot in the main draw for the women’s singles tournament went to Taylor Townsend of the United States.

Halep, 31, tested positive during the 2023 US Open for the banned substance Roxadustat, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency. She was accused of a second doping offense in May for irregularities found in her Athlete Biological Passport.

The Romanian, currently ranked No. 1140, has not played a match since losing in the first round of last year’s US Open to Daria Snigur of Ukraine, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.

Men and women to use same ball at US Open

After winning last year’s US Open, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland was among the women who complained that the lighter ball used by the women didn’t hold its strength as long or as well as the one used by men.

As it turns out, the US Open had been the only one of the four majors that employed a different ball for men (extra duty) and women (regular duty).

Last Thursday, during a pre-tournament news conference, US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said that the type of ball being used was at the discretion of the players and their tour, and that the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) only needed to know their preference (following last year’s tournament) so that enough balls could be ordered from Wilson, the official tennis ball provider of the US Open.

“We have been unwavering. That’s been their decision,” Allaster said. “If the WTA wants to change the ball, no problem. Wilson accommodates that, it’s no extra cost, and so the only condition we gave to the WTA was we need to know what ball you want to play with in 2023 at the end of the US Open. That’s how far the lead times are for Wilson to produce the volume of our US Open ball.”

Both men and women have been using the same ball the last two weeks during US Open tune-up events in Canada and Mason, Ohio, and will continue on a trial basis at the US Open. Allaster confirmed the USTA will await an answer from the WTA on what balls to order for 2024.

Cabal and Farah announce retirement

Former World No. 1 doubles team Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, both of Colombia, have announced their retirement. The two-time major champions will play in next week’s US Open, represent Colombia in the Davis Cup against Ukraine, and play in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Bogota before hanging up their racquets.

Cabal and Farah won major titles at Wimbledon and the US Open, both in 2019, the same year they reached World No. 1; and twice won titles in Rome (2018 and 2019). Together, they’ve won 19 titles.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction or something we decided from one day to the next,” Farah, 36, said, quoted by the ATP Tour website. “‘Sebas’ and I have decided to complete a cycle in tennis. Obviously, it’s a decision that brings a lot of emotions with it. It’s not easy, but now we want to prioritize new things in our lives.”

The Colombian duo are currently ranked 46th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Rankings.

Added Cabal, 37: “We feel like we’re doing the right thing. It’s a difficult moment. We’ve been playing this sport for 30 years, dreaming of life at the top. It’s hard to say goodbye, but everything comes to an end, and this is a good point. We feel it is a good moment. It’s not because of the results. It’s because of the time for each of us.”

Cabal said the past two seasons there was rarely a week where both he and Farah were physically healthy. “And although sport is in our blood, the wear and tear are a product of a long career,” he said. “We started to analyze it and we said ‘2023 will be our last year.’ Now, we just have to thank the world of tennis, life, God. We’ve had many experiences. We are very happy and at peace because we gave our all.”

Ons Jabeur becoming the conscience of the WTA Tour

Three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, who enters this year’s US Open as the fifth seed, shared her frustration – and by extension the fan’s frustration – over not knowing where this year’s WTA Finals will be held during one of her news conferences at last week’s Western & Southern Open. After being cancelled by the COVID pandemic in 2020, which forced the WTA to abandon holding any events in China, the year-end event has been held in Guadalajara, Mexico and Fort Worth, Texas (United States) the least two years.

Before the pandemic, the WTA Tour had signed a long-term agreement to hold the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, China.

Jabeur said: “Honestly, it’s frustrating. I don’t know what’s happening and why we don’t know yet. We are waiting. I heard a few cities. I’m not sure where. Some say Saudi [Arabia]. I’m not sure. It could be a great option for myself, to be honest with you. I wish they can take the decision as soon as possible so we would know where we want to go and the fans would know so we don’t have empty stadiums and we can promote the WTA Finals as soon as possible.”

Imagine Coco Gauff as a track and field star

While American teenager Coco Gauff sprinted to her first WTA 1000 title over the weekend at the Western & Southern Open – her second hard-court crown in three weeks, losing just one set along the way – she was asked during one of her news conferences whom she would describe as her biggest rivals on tour in a 100-meter dash.

Gauff responded: “I think Alycia Parks, she’s pretty quick, has a good stride. And Iga [Swiatek] is pretty quick, too. I think those two would give me a run.

“I would be curious to test it, to be honest! I do feel like I am the fastest mover, to be honest. I’d really be interested.”

Truth be told, said Gauff, “The 400 is really my race. I did run track. I guess in tennis terms, I think the hundred would be good for me. But against any other athlete, I need the 400 to even have a chance.”

It’s another baby girl for Serena

Serena Williams gave birth to a girl, Adira River, almost exactly a year after her last match. It’s the second child – and second daughter – for the 41-year-old 23-time major champion and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

By the numbers

According to the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Carlos Alcaraz enters next week’s US Open with just a 20-point lead over Novak Djokovic, 9,815 to 9,795. Because Alcaraz is defending 2,000 points for winning the 2022 US Open and Djokovic has none to lose, because he didn’t play in the event, it’s likely the 36-year-old Serbian will surpass his foe and leave New York as the new No. 1.

Djokovic needs only to win his first-round match to assure of returning to No. 1. The last time Djokovic lost in the first round of a major was in 2006 at the Australian Open.

“Quotable …”

“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.”

– Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, during his post-match news conference, after losing the final of the Western & Southern Open to Novak Djokovic.

 

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