Djokovic Zaps Zverev, Alcaraz Saves MP v Hurkacz; Dream 1 v 2 Cincinnati Masters Final Set!

For the third straight tournament, Novak Djokovic will meet Carlos Alcaraz, and this time once again for a title.

Djokovic set the meeting with the world No. 1 by taking down Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 7-5 Saturday night in the Cincinnati Masters semifinals.

Djokovic couldn’t make a dent on the Zverev first set early on, but finally broke in the second. However, when serving for it things fell apart. He was able to break again and then, with the 10pm fireworks across the street in full flight, Djokovic finished off the German.

“In very few of his service games where I had chances, I think I played well, particularly 5-all, he broke my serve to stay in the match,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “I managed to bounce back, played a great game to break him again and seal the deal in the 12th game of the second set.

“I’m pleased. I think there’s a few things I could’ve done better, but overall it’s a straight sets win against a great player in form, so I’m really happy.”

The Serb, into his 8th Cincinnati final, will seek his third title at the event, second in the city after 2020 was played in New York.

Earlier, Alcaraz rallied again from a set down and then had to save a match point on his serve at 4-5 in the second to deny Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

The Pole dominated on serve and was in complete control, and then had a mid-court forehand on match which his sprayed wide. Alcaraz took advantage and took over from there to improve to 4-0 in Masters semifinals.

“It was a mental semifinal, I had to stay there,” Alcaraz said on court. “I had a lot of break points, it was really tough. Obviously saving a match point is never easy but with my coach, we were talking about staying positive all the time and to stay there. We knew I was going to have my chances and I tried to take it. Every match against Hubi is really, really tough but I’m really, really happy that I was able to win.”

Alcaraz has won all four matches this week in three sets. But it’s good to be just 20.

“It’s been a really tough tournament,” Alcaraz said. “But I’m really happy to win these kind of matches and stay strong mentally, these matches are really good for me. I grow up a lot thanks to these matches.”

Tomorrow, he’ll try to win his third match over Djokovic in their first hard court meeting. Alcaraz will also seek his fourth title in the U.S. having won the other three big ones at Indian Wells, Miami and of course the US Open.

Alcaraz has already wrapped up the No. 1 seed for the US Open by making the final. Djokovic, though, would love some revenge.

SUNDAY CINCINNATI MASTERS SCHEDULE
Center Court Starts At 1:30 Pm
(7) Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova

Not Before 4:30 Pm
(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs (2) Novak Djokovic