Former ATP No. 1 Andy Roddick called Novak Djokovic an absolute specimen after being left in amazement at the Serbian's improbable comeback in Sunday's Cincinnati Masters final.
Djokovic looked dead in the water just over an hour into the contest, as his early pace-setting form quickly dissipated in stifling conditions under the Ohio sun. And Roddick, who was among many fans that wrote off Djokovic's chances after falling a set and a break down, did not anticipate the comeback.
Roddick believes Djokovic's powers of recovery are next to none, calling him 'an absolute specimen' and saying that it is unfathomable to do it at 36 against such a valiant and energetic young opponent across the other side of the net.
Djokovic manifested signs of life late in the second set when he broke back, with Roddick attributing to the sunset being a key factor in the turnaround. A section of fans called out Djokovic for taking a mid-match break to distract Alcaraz. The American, now working as a commentator for Tennis Channel, clarified Djokovic played by the rulebook which is why the umpire permitted him to do so.
"Novak is an absolute specimen. At 36 years old to be able to go out and do that, especially recovering. Once the sun went down, it changed something. So it was the sun, it was the heat. Then once the conditions became a little more muted, he took some breaks, he figured out a way to ask permission to go and change his clothes."
"The umpire said ‘okay’. We can talk all night about whether or not that was the right call, but like we can't be mad at Novak for asking the question. It’s the umpire’s job to enforce the rules. So he shouldn't take direct criticism from that and I hope he doesn't. But finding a way to get through that one way or the other."
When Djokovic trailed 5-7, 2-4, and appeared lethargic under the sun, Roddick thought that the match was done and dusted. He was lost for words when the match clock ticked towards its fourth hour and realized that Djokovic had regained his level, while at the same time, Carlos Alcaraz was still playing lights-out tennis from the baseline.
"I thought he (Novak Djokovic) was cooked an hour into the match then all of a sudden you look up and it's three hours and 50 minutes total time and he looks better than he did in the first set out. Alcaraz is just absolutely cold-blooded hitting winners down match points, hitting winners up set point."
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