Novak Djokovic on Sunday outlasted Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling rematch of their Wimbledon final, winning 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) to take the Western & Southern Open men’s singles title.
In a match that lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, the longest best-of-three-sets final in ATP Tour history (since 1990), world No. 2 Djokovic avenged his loss last month to top-ranked Alcaraz and earned his 95th career title, passing Ivan Lendl for third among men in the professional era, dating to 1968.
In the women’s singles final, seventh seed Coco Gauff became the first teenager in more than 50 years to win the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova.
Photo: Kareem Elgazzar / The Enquirer-USA Today
Djokovic was playing his first tournament on US soil in two years because of COVID-19 restrictions. He secured his third championship in six years in Ohio on his fifth match point when Alcaraz went wide with a forehand return.
The 36-year-old Serbian fell on his back, arms and legs spread, before heading to the net to shake hands with his Spanish opponent. He then strutted around the court and ripped his shirt apart.
“This was one of the most exciting matches I’ve ever played in any tournament,” the winner of a men’s record 23 Grand Slam titles said during the post-match trophy presentation. “It felt like a Grand Slam.”
Djokovic survived the longest men’s match at the tournament’s since at least 1990 to become the oldest man to win the championship. Ken Rosewall was 35 when he won in 1970.
The rematch of Alcaraz’s five-set victory at Wimbledon broke the previous Cincinnati record of 2 hours, 49 minutes, set in 2010 as Roger Federer was beating Mardy Fish. It is the longest three-set match on the ATP Tour this season by three minutes.
“I have so much to say, but I’m not sure that I have the energy,” Djokovic said, cradling his trophy.
He paused and looked at Alcaraz.
“You never give up, do you?” he said. “I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun — well, for the fans, not for me.”
The US Open begins on Monday next week. Alcaraz, the defending champion, is guaranteed to remain No. 1 heading into the tournament.
The tiebreakers were Alcaraz’s fourth and fifth in four matches during the week. He went three sets in every match, while Djokovic did not drop a set until Sunday.
“The match was pretty close,” Alcaraz said. “I’ll be back.”
Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, earned her first Masters 1000 title when Muchova sailed a forehand return wide on Gauff’s fourth match point. The 19-year-old tossed her racket in the air and jumped up and down in glee.
“This is unbelievable,” Gauff said during the post-match trophy presentation. “I’m just happy to be here for this moment.”
“I want to congratulate Karolina for an incredible run in this tournament,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll play more often, and on a bigger stage than this.”
Gauff was the tournament’s fourth teenage finalist and the first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. She is the first teenage champion since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.
Gauff celebrated her birthday yesterday by moving up to No. 10 in the world rankings.
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