Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic battle in a replay of the Wimbledon final on Sunday.
Alcaraz won six straight points in the second-set tiebreaker to reach his eighth final of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic battle in a replay of the Wimbledon final on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will clash in a rematch of their Wimbledon final on Sunday at the Western & Southern Open.
In the first men’s semifinal Saturday, top-ranked Alcaraz saved a match point in the second set and battled over unseeded Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
From Madrid to Paris to London to Cincinnati!
We go again 🔥🔥#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/hOcohB8wPG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 20, 2023
Then, No. 2 Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev, the 2021 tournament champ, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to earn a shot at his third title in the U.S. Open tuneup.
Alcaraz won six straight points in the second-set tiebreaker to go to his ninth season final. He defeated Djokovic last month at Wimbledon to earn his second major title and deny Djokovic, 36, his 23rd.
Coco Gauff will compete for the women’s crown on Sunday after defeating world number one Iga Swiatek 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4. Karolina Muchova, who defeated No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2, will be her opponent.
Alcaraz, 20, is the youngest Cincinnati finalist since Pete Sampras in 1991, when he was 19 years old. He is attempting to become the youngest champion since Boris Becker, who won at the age of 17 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." @DjokerNole + @carlosalcaraz =
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/OB10G8WIwF— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 20, 2023
Despite going to a third set in each of his four matches this week, Alcaraz says he’ll be ready for the final.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m playing third sets or long matches, I’m recovering really well,” Alcaraz explained. “I think I’ll play the first match of the tournament.” “I’m feeling fantastic.”
After losing the first set, Alcaraz needed two tiebreakers to defeat Hurkacz last week in Toronto.
Clutch Carlitos 😎
The moment that @carlosalcaraz defeated Hubert Hurkacz to reach his fifth Masters final and first at #CincyTennis! pic.twitter.com/xrAPsbm1qD
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 19, 2023
“Playing against Hubert is always tough,” Alcaraz said, “We played until the final ball. I was really happy to get that win today. He’s one of the best servers in the tour.”
Djokovic, 36, is the oldest professional Cincinnati finalist since 1968, surpassing 35-year-old Ken Rosewell in 1970.
In their previous seven matches, Gauff had never won a set against Swiatek. Swiatek, winner of three of the last six Grand Slam titles, survived three match points before Gauff, 19, completed the upset to the pleasure of a big audience that cheered enthusiastically for the American.
“It really feels good,” Gauff added. “It demonstrates that I can be at, or compete at, that level.” I’m sure I’ll have to deal with her again and again. I still believe I am not at the top of my game.”
Before winning the tiebreaker Saturday, Gauff had not won more than four games in a set versus Swiatek since their first encounter in Rome in 2021.
“Today I fought until the bitter end,” Swiatek stated. “Coco, she’s a fantastic player.” She deserved it more this time. My gas tank is nearly empty. “I’m relieved to have some days off.”
Gauff is the fourth professional-era adolescent to reach the Cincinnati final, and the first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. Linda Tuero, 17, was the last youngster to win the title in 1968.
