Djokovic shoots ex officio against Zverev and gives us the dream final with Alcaraz

The dream final at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 is now a reality. Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz this Sunday (22:30 Spanish peninsular time) after defeating Alexander Zverev 7-6(5) 7-5 earlier in the morning in an even match that lasted two hours and four minutes in which he ended a streak of nine wins for the German in this tournament.

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Zverev, currently number 17 in the world, is the Cincinnati champion in 2021 and did not participate in the 2022 edition as he was absent due to a serious ankle injury sustained at Roland Garros against Rafa Nadal.

For Djokovic, this is the 75th semifinal of his Masters 1,000 career and this year he lost just one game in 19 on a hard surface. Only the Russian Daniil Medvedev beat him, in Dubai.

The Serbian increased his record to 8-4 against Zverev, who defeated him in their last meeting, at the 2021 ATP Finals.

DEMANDING SEMIFINAL FOR DJOKOVIC

A tiebreaker was needed to settle the first set, won 7-5 by Djokovic after one hour and thirteen minutes. no rest. In the second set, Djokovic got the break in the first game, but Zverev rallied from it in the tenth to level at 5-5.

However, the Serbian did not take long to react and achieved the ‘break’ in the following game which paved the way for him in the final. Djokovic was the star of a funny public anecdote, as he served for the game when the fireworks were set off at a nearby Cincinnati amusement park.

Djokovic asked for more time to dismiss the judge and, when he ruled the round pass, He throws a ball out of the stadium, towards the amusement park, to release the tension.

This Sunday is the day of the grand finale with Alcarazjust over a month after the Murcian defeated him in the Wimbledon final.

Alcaraz has a 2-1 advantage over the Serbian forwards. He defeated him in the semifinals of the Masters 1,000 in Madrid 6-7(5), 7-5 and 7-6(5) in 2022, when he was crowned champion.

This year, Djokovic won the Roland Garros semi-final 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, before succumbing 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6 and 6 – 4 in the Wimbledon final.