2023-08-21 09:28:29
“Dude, you never give up. I like it about you, ”says Novak Djokovic, the winner of this Master 1000 on Monday. “The Spaniards never die,” replied his opponent of the day, Carlos Alcaraz. “I’ve heard that before. Or I have experienced it before”, concludes, smiling and with reference to Rafael Nadal, the world number 2 who won this completely crazy match in 3:49, 5-7, 7-6 (9/7 ), 7-6 (7/4).
However, this duel could have taken a completely different turn. In the tie-break of the second set, the Spaniard, world number 1, winner of the first (7-5), offered himself a match point which he failed to convert. It was rather “Nole” who saved the ball, before winning the set. He, who had not participated in any tournament since his defeat against Alcaraz at Wimbledon last month, struggled to win the next one and therefore his 39th Master 1000.
The Spanish prodigy dismissed four match points in a tenth game of more than thirteen minutes before yielding during the tie-break. “It was the most difficult and exciting match I have ever participated in, testified after the meeting Novak Djokovic, Carlos is an extraordinary player, I have a lot of respect for him. »
Respect, the one who has raised 23 Grand Slams during his career, deserves a little too. It is the 17th time that the Serb has won a match after saving a match point, the fourth in a final. Simply extraordinary. But so commonplace for the player who saw this duel against the 20-year-old crack as a “very good test before the US Open”. The two will meet again, on September 10, for the final in New York.
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