In an electrifying showdown at the Cincinnati Open finals, Carlos Alcaraz found himself on the edge of victory against Novak Djokovic, only to narrowly succumb in a gripping three-set final. In the high-stakes encounter Alcaraz valiantly saved multiple match points before falling in a nail-biting tiebreak of the deciding set.
Amidst the pressure-packed contest, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s coach, delivered a series of peculiar yet impactful comments. These instructions added a unique dimension to the match’s intensity. Ferrero’s unconventional guidance was ingrained with tactical insight and encouragement to his pupil. Many tennis lovers would be quite curious to know about some of these conversations that we could leverage.
His words echoed with relentless motivation, pushing Alcaraz to persevere through each moment. Amidst cries of “Come on, Vega, point by point,” Ferrero emphasized the need for resilience and mental fortitude. The coach’s words emphasized the essence of staying strong and playing with focus.
Ferrero’s intriguing words to Alcaraz during Cincinnati finals
Aware of Djokovic’s ability to skillfully manipulate the shot clock during tense moments, Ferrero advised his pupil to remain unfazed by any commotion Djokovic might receive from the crowd. Ferrero’s words reflected a practical outlook, “Let go, let go, if they whistle a ‘warning,’ let them whistle it. He is very attentive to the open, watch out,” cautioned Alcaraz’s coach.
He reminded Alcaraz of Alexander Zverev‘s recent feat of denying Djokovic from serving out his semi-final match, providing him motivation when Djokovic was 5-3 up within the decider with a break of serve. “Zverev broke him with 5-4 the other day,” Ferrero reminded his protege in the heat of the moment. Alcaraz instantly broke back Djokovic to level the score at five games all.
With Ferrero’s timely guidance, the intensity of the match remained intact until the final key moments, when the scoreboard showed a tense 4-4 in the third set tiebreak. Unfortunately, a costly mistake by Alcaraz tilted the balance in Djokovic’s favor, who clinched his 95th career title.
Djokovic’s rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz reminds him of his epic duels with Nadal
After an exhilarating showdown at the Cincinnati Open, Novak Djokovic drew an intriguing parallel between his evolving duels with Carlos Alcaraz and his iconic rivalry with Rafa Nadal. Djokovic’s reflection emerged following a grueling four-hour clash against the 20-year-old world number one, culminating in Djokovic’s hard-earned 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) victory – a match that etched its place as the longest best-of-three sets final in ATP history.
The match reminded Djokovic of his 2012 Australian Open. Giving reference to the epic five-hour, 53-minute encounter where he triumphed over Nadal, Djokovic compared his recent battle with Alcaraz to that match. He said,” The feeling that I have on the court reminds me a little bit when I was facing Nadal when we were at our prime.”
In admiration of Alcaraz’s composure, Djokovic praised the young player’s ability to thrive under pressure, drawing a direct parallel to their prime clashes with Nadal. “He plays so maturely, handles the pressure so well for a 20-year-old,” Djokovic remarked.
Djokovic’s comparison of Alcaraz with Nadal resonates deeply with the intensity of his rivalry with the young Spaniard as the players gear up for the upcoming U.S. Open, where Alcaraz is set to defend his title.