MASON, Ohio — Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet Sunday on the Western & Southern Open in a rematch of their Wimbledon remaining.
The highest-ranked Alcaraz erased a match level within the second set and rallied previous unseeded Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 within the first males’s semifinal Saturday.
Then, No. 2 Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev, the 2021 event champ, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to earn a shot at his third title within the US Open tuneup.
Alcaraz gained six straight factors within the second-set tiebreaker to achieve his eighth remaining of the season. He beat Djokovic final month at Wimbledon to win his second main title and deny the 36-year-old Djokovic his twenty third.
Alcaraz, 20, is the youngest Cincinnati finalist since 19-year-old Pete Sampras in 1991. He’s attempting to develop into the youngest champion since Boris Becker gained at 17 in 1985.
Regardless of going to a 3rd set in every of his 4 matches this week, Alcaraz says he’ll be prepared for the ultimate.
“It would not matter if I am taking part in third units or lengthy matches, I am recovering very well,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I really feel like I’ll play the primary match of the event. I really feel nice.”
Final week in Toronto, Alcaraz wanted two tiebreakers to beat Hurkacz after shedding the primary set.
“Taking part in towards Hubert is at all times robust,” Alcaraz mentioned. “We performed till the ultimate ball. I used to be actually comfortable to get that win immediately. He is among the finest servers within the tour.”
Djokovic, 36, is the oldest Cincinnati finalist within the skilled period, courting to 1968, surpassing 35-year previous Ken Rosewall in 1970.
Earlier within the week, it was introduced that Alcaraz and Djokovic will take part within the group stage of the Davis Cup finals subsequent month.
Alcaraz and Djokovic have been included within the groups introduced Monday by Spain and Serbia, respectively, for the competitors that can be performed Sept. 12-17 in Valencia, Spain.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
