Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard was stunned by Novak Djokovic's unbelievable comeback in the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.
Djokovic avenged his Wimbledon final defeat last month and earned his third Cincinnati Masters title after beating Alcaraz 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4).
The battle lasted for nearly four hours. Djokovic almost lost the match as he was just one championship point away from successive final defeats against Alcaraz.
But the 36-year-old proved why he has 23 Grand Slam titles to his name and railed from that position by saving a championship point at 5/6 in the second-set-tie break and winning it 9/7.
Bouchard, just like everyone, was surprised at the outcome of the match as at one point it looked that the Spaniard will win because Djokovic looked tired during the second set.
“I can’t believe he came back to win. He didn’t look too good in the 2nd, face was red, I thought he would retire. This is truly unbelievable. Pushed himself to human limits in sports,” the Canadian posted a story on her Instagram account.
Djokovic himself called this encounter "one of the toughest he has ever played" as the Serb was not only competing against the Spaniard but Cincinnati's intense heat also got to him.
"I don’t know what else I can say. Tough to describe. Definitely one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played in my life – regardless of what tournament, what category, what level, what player. I mean it’s unbelievable -- from the beginning till the end,” the Serb said, gasping for breath.
The world no. 2 praised Alcaraz for playing outstanding despite the unfavourable weather conditions.
"We’ve both been through so much; so many ups and downs, highs and lows, incredible points, poor games. You know, heat strokes!” the 36-year-old said, adding, “Coming back – overall one of the toughest and most exciting matches I was ever part of. These are the kind of moments and matches that I continue to work for, day in, day out.”