"I left the court very very happy with what I did": Alcaraz unsure on why he cried during crushing Djokovic defeat

Carlos Alcaraz expressed uncertainty about the reason behind his tears following his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati Open final.

The Spanish player fought valiantly in his third Masters 1000 final of the year, adding to his victories at Indian Wells and the Madrid Open. Despite his impressive record in decisive matches, with 12 wins and only three losses, the world No. 1 couldn't clinch the title.

Facing him was Novak Djokovic, who battled from start to finish, staging a comeback to overturn the match. Djokovic won two tie-breaks and saved several match points against him in a thrilling three-hour and fifty-minute encounter.

While Alcaraz saved four match points against him, Djokovic thwarted the Spanish player's opportunity in the second set when everything seemed to be in 'Carlitos' favor.

Following the grueling match, Alcaraz displayed deep emotion and shed tears on the court after his defeat. The 19-year-old tennis player shared his thoughts during a press conference:

“I feel proud of myself, that’s the truth. I was talking & I don't know why I was crying bc I fought until the last ball. I almost beat 1 of the all-time greats of our sport. It's crazy to talk about it right now, but I left the court very, very happy with what I did," said former world No. 1.

The tournament's conclusion set several records, including the longest final in the history of the Masters 1000 category with three sets, lasting for an intense 3 hours and 50 minutes of battle between the players.

Djokovic leveled the head-to-head record with the world No. 1, securing his second victory in four matchups, three of which occurred this year.

With his 39th Masters 1000 title, Djokovic extended his lead as the most successful player in this category. He is followed by Rafael Nadal with 36 titles and Roger Federer with 28.

Among active players, after Nadal, Andy Murray holds 14 titles, Daniil Medvedev has 6, and Alexander Zverev boasts 5 titles in this category and Alcaraz, who maintains his record at 4 titles.