Djokovic rips shirt off after spectacular comeback in Cincinnati Open: "One of the toughest matches I've ever played in my life"

Monday, 21 August 2023 at 09:00

Novak Djokovic produced an utterly epic comeback to down Carlos Alcaraz at the Cincinnati Open. In the process, he tore his shirt off as he showed what the near four hour win meant to him.

Djokovic rallied from a set and championship point down to seal the win in one that he termed one of the toughest wins of his career to do that.

Against a player who had his number at Wimbledon and looked to do so again, but despite battling through heat exhaustion and superb play from Alcaraz, the latter could not get the job done and as ever Djokovic rose to the occasion.

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“Crazy. Honestly, I don't know what else I can say. Tough to describe. Definitely one of the toughest matches I've ever played in my life, regardless what tournament, what category, what level, what player. It's unbelievable,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.

“From the beginning 'til the end, we've both been through so much, so many ups and downs, highs and lows, incredible points, poor games, heat strokes, coming back," he added.

“Just overall, one of the toughest and most exciting matches I was ever part of and these are the kinds of moments and matches that I continue to work for day in day out. I was never in doubt that I can deliver the 'A' game when it mattered the most and just thrilled."

Watch the conclusion below.

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Too tough to die 💪 The moment @DjokerNole locked up his record 39th Masters title in THE MOST DRAMATIC fashion, 5-7 7-6 7-6 over Carlos Alcaraz #CincyTennis

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12:37 AM · Aug 21, 2023

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