It is finals day at the 2023 Cincinnati Open (Western & Southern Open) which is the final big stop en route to the US Open and in the men's final, we are in for a treat as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic resume their rivalry.

In our preview, we run through the finer details including their run through to the final and their head to head. Who takes the title this evening at around 22:30 CET?

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Route to the Final - Novak Djokovic

A masterstroke in many ways, Novak Djokovic decided against playing post Wimbledon citing fatigue almost three weeks before Toronto which saw many players fall off a cliff going into Cincinnati.

While Djokovic while of course with rust due to not playing for a while as ever returned and stuck to his task supremely. After the disappointment of Wimbledon, he simply brushed it off as a player of his calibre would.

Even facing some tough opposition early on proved a breeze. Such as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who retired in the second set after a career defining semi-final run in Canada. Following that, the draw opened up with a certain Gael Monfils awaiting. A player that he has beaten from pillar to post through his career.

A record time in the modern era (19-0) in fact and even then, Taylor Fritz who has been one of the most in-form players was mere cannon fodder for the 23-time Grand Slam champion in a 6-0, 6-4 win.

Narrowly defeating Alexander Zverev, he has yet to lose a set this week and on his return to US soil has shown that he is still very much the player to beat alongside his opponent.

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Route to the Final - Carlos Alcaraz

That opponent being the defending US Open champion and the vanquisher of his grass court dominance at Wimbledon in Carlos Alcaraz. The World No.1 has struggled at times this week, but still found his way through.

Perhaps, he will be regretting playing Canada unlike Djokovic as he lost there too to Tommy Paul in a similar week which had its ups and downs. In Cincinnati though, he vanquished those demons albeit in a less exciting run though opposition-wise.

He has lost a set in every single match he has played in comparison seeing off Jordan Thompson, the aforementioned Canada bogeyman in Paul, Max Purcell who benefited from being a lucky loser to find his way into the Quarter-Final as well as Hubert Hurkacz. A perennial winner at ATP 1000 level.

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But battling through rain delays and in truth not playing his best, he will look to turn it on when it matters most against his greatest current foe. Novak Djokovic awaits but will it be repeat or revenge?

In their slim Head to Head, it is Alcaraz on top 2-1 winning their first meeting in 2022 and their latest meeting in 2023. But interestingly they have never battled on this surface, with Alcaraz' emergence coming while Djokovic was not allowed into the States for vaccination reasons. They resume their rivalry at a pivotal point and in comparison to the WTA final, it is two players firmly expected to be there and means a thrilling contest awaits.

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