Djokovic rips shirt after beating Alcaraz on fifth match point in Cincy final

Carlos Alcaraz fell to Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2023 Cincinnati Open, an instant-classic of a match that ended with the Serbian on top (5-7, 7-6, 7-6) in three hours and 49 minutes of action, the longest best-of-three Masters 1000 title game in history.

Djokovic, 36, completed the comeback after trailing by a set and 4-2 down in the second. He was visibly struggling from the heat and saved a match point to secure his 39th ATP 1000 title and 95th trophy as a professional.

He also now has 1,069 victories, one more than Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl. Only Jimmy Connors (1,274) and Roger Federer (1,251) are ahead of him.

The 23-time major winner lifted a trophy on US soil for the first time since the 2020 Cincy Open. He lost the 2023 US Open final to Daniil Medvedev and will look to make up for that loss this year in New York.

He had been unable to play tournaments in the United States over the past couple of years due to his unvaccinated status, but all restrictions are lifted.

Alcaraz, 20, defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last month and looked poised to repeat the feat.

He made it tough on Djokovic, but his 10 unforced errors, compared to just four by the Serbian, made a huge difference in the end.

Djokovic was clearly relieved after the victory, ripping off his shirt in celebration, almost as if to remove the weight of the Wimbledon loss off his shoulders

Alcaraz suffered a cut on his finger after banging on an ice cooler in frustration between sets. It took Djokovic five match points to seal the deal, so the injury likely did not play a role.