Novak Djokovic calls the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz equivalent of a Grand Slam as their rivalry heats up

Tennis icon Novak Djokovic recalls the physical toll the match between Alcaraz and him at the Cincinnati Open took on him. 

Novak Djokovic calls the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz equivalent of a Grand Slam as their rivalry heats up

Novak Djokovic (R), image credits ( New York magazine) Carlos Alcaraz (L), image credits ( Times of India)

With the 2023 US Open set to entertain tennis fans, World No. 2 Novak Djokovic said a few nice words about his rival, Carlos Alcaraz. With that being said, there is no denying the fact that these two have been pushing each other to play their best tennis every time they meet and have truly kept the viewers on the edge of their seats. 

“Carlos was playing very well. He’s always pushing me to the limit. I think I do to him pretty much the same thing. That’s why we produced memorable final.”  said the Serbian. Both of these players gave it their all to make this a memorable final, and Novak considers this one of the more difficult finals he has ever played. He said, “It was one of the best, most exciting, and most difficult finals I was ever part of in best-of-three, no doubt, throughout my career.”

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The Cincinnati champion further continued by saying that this was the reason he fell on the ground because this final was no less than that of a Grand Slam, and winning this ATP Masters seemed like winning a Grand Slam.

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Continuing his train of thought, he further added, “That’s why I fell on the ground after I won the match because it felt like winning a Grand Slam, to be honest,”

The last time these two champions faced off was in the Cincinnati Open finals, where Novak pulled off another great victory. This was the most exciting game in recent times, as fans are hoping to see more of their iconic on-court rivalry in the future. 

Related: WATCH: Novak Djokovic trades his racket for a baseball bat, frying pan, and other objects at the US Open leaving fans in splits

The Rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz heats up

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Winning the Cincinnati Open did boost the confidence of the former World No. 1 but also took a toll on his body. In an interview, he recalled that he was extremely exhausted for a few days after the match. There were numerous long rallies between the two all around the court. Every inch was covered, and this took a huge physical toll on the bodies of both. Novak says that it was physically demanding and grueling. 

Despite the result, both players thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the match, and they are grateful for having the opportunity to play tennis at the very top level. This match showed the level of competition that the sport holds and how the players are ready to grab every opportunity they get. 

Carlos Alcaraz has once again proven why he is a force to be reckoned with. The last Spanish to win many fans over was Rafael Nadal, but in his absence, Carlos has managed to keep the competition flowing and entertain the viewers. The future of tennis is bright, and it will be exciting to see what the sport holds for the younger generation.

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