Cincinnati Masters 2023, Ohio, US - ATP Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

1-4 to 7-4 in the TB, after saving MPs, Charly is still alive in this match 76 (4) 2nd set

 

[nehmeth]

Playing much better tennis here in the third set.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Playing much better tennis here in the third set.

Quite frankly he has to lol!, he was lucky to escape in the TB in the 2nd set

 

[nehmeth]

Nice finish. Third set he played more like the world #1.

 

[the AntiPusher]

HH has Tbr blockage in his Head

 

[the AntiPusher]

Sasha can play Novak tough on this court surface

 

[nehmeth]

Sasha can play Novak tough on this court surface

He has never been an easy win for Novak. Wore the Serb’s butt out in the 2021 semis of the USO.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak serving for the match 5-4 broken
5 games all 2nd set, Novak won the 1st set TB 76(5)
Novak will attempt to serve out the match for the 2nd time 6-5 as he broke the serve of Zverev
Djokovic d Zverev 76(5) 75 to reach the final where he will play Alcaraz

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

With his win in the SF against Hubi, Alcaraz is assured of the No 1 ranking until the end of the USO

 

[nehmeth]

At 5-4 and serving for the match, Novak played some loose points, allowing Zverev to break back for 5 all. Then he goes into lockdown and the only thing to mess him up was the fireworks. Good quality from both players this evening.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

At 5-4 and serving for the match, Novak played some loose points, allowing Zverev to break back for 5 all. Then he goes into lockdown and the only thing to mess him up was the fireworks. Good quality from both players this evening.

Yep it was a good match from both players

 

[rafanoy1992]

Carlos Alcaraz will try to be the 4th male player to beat Novak Djokovic in ALL surfaces. You guys probably know who were the other three players.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak signs the camera lens after beating Zverev
" Fireworks, yeah "

 

[Moxie]

Yep it was a good match from both players

Was it really? I watched some, including late in both matches. Sure, Zverev kept it close, but he's 10 years younger than Novak, and a former world #3 (?) A good match, at this level, should have gone 3. Zverev has no real fire. I suspect he's content with it being a "good match from both players." Or perhaps he's just an overrated talent, and we have no reason to expect more.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Was it really? I watched some, including late in both matches. Sure, Zverev kept it close, but he's 10 years younger than Novak, and a former world #3 (?) A good match, at this level, should have gone 3. Zverev has no real fire. I suspect he's content with it being a "good match from both players." Or perhaps he's just an overrated talent, and we have no reason to expect more.

Well you know I am not a fan of Zverev, though to be fair reaching a ATP1000 SF in Cincinnati after he has had trouble finding some form this year,coming back from his foot injury to me is a solid result, I didnt think he would win over Novak
I am also not a fan of Hubi but he played a good 1st set over Charly, who again started slow in his match

 

[Moxie]

Well you know I am not a fan of Zverev, though to be fair reaching a ATP1000 SF in Cincinnati after he has had trouble finding some form this year,coming back from his foot injury to me is a solid result, I didnt think he would win over Novak
I am also not a fan of Hubi but he played a good 1st set over Charly, who again started slow in his match

I really don't care if you're a fan of either. My question is if this was actually an acceptable result from Zverev, and I don't think it was. I think he's given up winning against big players. If Hurkacz could take his match to 3, so should Zverev have. He was within touching distance of making it a real match, and I thought he was meek in the fight, and the business ends of sets. It's a shame, but I never see anything like actual grit from him. Someone please remind me the last time he looked like he really gritted out a match, left it all on the court, and came out on top?

 

[Kieran]

I really don't care if you're a fan of either. My question is if this was actually an acceptable result from Zverev, and I don't think it was. I think he's given up winning against big players. If Hurkacz could take his match to 3, so should Zverev have. He was within touching distance of making it a real match, and I thought he was meek in the in the fight, and the business ends of sets. It's a shame, but I never see anything like actual grit from him. Someone please remind me the last time he looked like he really gritted out a match, left it all on the court, and came out on top?

Remember we all watched Zverev play Rafa in Australia in 2017, only a kid but he gave Rafa a run for his money. We hoped he’d amount to something bigger than he has. He’s got straw balls. No spine. And I think you’re right, he’s given up on giving his all to get the win against big players.

Contrast him with Carlos. He’d have been forgiven if he’d let any match just slide this week so he could prepare for the Open. He’s obviously not at his best, and he’s playing long matches. But he’s honest and tough and stubborn, and not giving up. He’s got pride. He might have lost against HH, and nobody would think less of him, but he found a way to win.

Zverev and Sissy are this eras biggest flops, when it comes to not rising to the occasion, and digging deep to get the win…

 

[Kieran]

It’s going to be an interesting final. Novak is the obvious favourite, given his pedigree at this tournament, his non-challenging route to the final, and his freshness. His experience too. Carlos isn’t playing anywhere near his best for prolonged periods in these matches, he’s in transition as a player, discovering his identity as the games Top Dog, and he’s most likely tired too, though he says he isn’t.

Mentally I’d say he has to be tired, with all those final sets in all those dramatic matches. But - he’s rising to the occasion with aplomb, and playing great tennis when he needs to.

I think if his game catches fire tonight he’ll win in straights, though he might have to suffer another final set..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I really don't care if you're a fan of either. My question is if this was actually an acceptable result from Zverev, and I don't think it was. I think he's given up winning against big players. If Hurkacz could take his match to 3, so should Zverev have. He was within touching distance of making it a real match, and I thought he was meek in the in the fight, and the business ends of sets. It's a shame, but I never see anything like actual grit from him. Someone please remind me the last time he looked like he really gritted out a match, left it all on the court, and came out on top?

Read my post? regardless that I am not a fan of Sasha, he has been struggling with form this year, due to his foot injury to be fair, and I did not expect him to win against Novak, I still feel it was a solid result making the SF of a Masters 1000
In the final Charly cannot afford such slow start again, against Novak, also his BP conversion rate is below par.

 

[don_fabio]

Looks like Zverev forgot to ask Alcaraz for a few advices.