Sign Me Up For A Few More Years Of Novak Djokovic And Carlos Alcaraz Going To War Like They Did In Yesterday's Epic Cincy Open Final
For now on, whenever Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic enter the same tournament it'll be a massive disappointment if they don't meet in the finals. While it's tough to bank on two players carrying the weight of an entire sport, that's just how good the product is when these guys dance for all the marbles.
We tend to become prisoners of the moment while watching sports.
"That was the greatest catch I've ever seen"
"He's the best player the sport has ever seen"
"Is this the best team ever"
Well, yesterday's Cincinnati Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic's may very well have been the best three set match I've ever seen. Three hours and fifty minutes full of twists, turns, and epic moments. It wasn't for a slam title, but it sure felt like it. These two Gods left it all out there and the end result was a fucking show for everyone tuning in from either the stands or their couches.
While the first set and a half seemed to indicate an Alcaraz steamroll, Novak eventually entered the match as conditions on the court changed in his favor. One loose game from Carlos leveled the second set a 4 all and from there it was insane. A dude who at one point looked like we might faint because of the intense heat had found his bearings. From that point on we got must watch TV with basically every point that was played. The level of play was so good that it honestly didn't even feel real.
I know it's asking a lot these days for anyone to watch a four and a half minute clip, but give the 3rd set highlights below a chance. Good shit by Tennis TV for putting this together.
Novak called it one of the toughest matches, grand slam or not, that he's ever played. Sure Carlos didn't come up with the W in the end, but the way he continues to push Djokovic is something we haven't witnessed in a long time. It's fun as hell to watch play out.
Any newcomer who has attempted to take Novak down has, for the most part, failed miserably. Maybe a win here and there from someone like Medvedev or Kyrgios, but not like this. Djokovic is forced to empty his whole bag of tricks to get to the finish line against Alcaraz. There are two guys in the history of the sport who have consistently forced Djokovic to go to that level if he wants to win— Nadal and Federer. When the Serbian takes the court against Carlos he sees an equal. That to me is fucking awesome.
In a little less than three weeks we must get Carlos and Novak in the men's final of the US Open. As shitty as it sounds, any other matchup will be a massive disappointment. This is all we need. It's like watching a completely different sport when you get a glimpse of the rest of the tour going to battle. If by the grace of god they both avoid injury or a freak upset, it'll be appointment television. I know the late afternoon slate of football will be on, but that match will be so good you'll be forced to throw it on.
The scariest part of all this continues to be Alcaraz's age. He won't be 21 until NEXT MAY. The mental toughness he shows on these massive points with the match on the line is insane for his age. There are so many talented young guys who tried to tango with Djokovic only to crumble mentally when it mattered. When Djokovic beats Carlos it's because he played perfect tennis, not because of intimidation. Whenever Novak hangs em' up, whether that be in two, three, four years, Carlos will then run through the tour for a decade+ assuming his body holds up. It won't be fair. Until then though, sign me the fuck up to watch these two go to war for every big title in the sport.
Here's the full 12 minute highlight video if that one earlier wasn't enough. What a match.
P.S. What helps kill the sport's potential growth with a young superstar like Carlos is how hidden these matches are. Yesterday's final was found on The Tennis Channel. For a psycho like me that's no problem. Hell, I even pay the annual fee for TC plus to get every match. For most though, they're not stumbling into this match by accident. This match needed to be on something like ESPN desperately to maximize eyeballs and conversation. That's why it's so important for them to keep facing off in slam finals. It's the only way to really blow this up.