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Think it’s foolish to serve and volley behind your second serve? Wrong. It’s foolish not to.

Novak Djokovic served and volleyed six times behind his second serve, winning every point on his way to a thrilling 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Western & Southern Open final on Sunday.

The back of the court was failing Djokovic early on as torrid baseline exchanges took their toll in the blistering Cincinnati heat. The Serbian suffered from heat exhaustion after only a handful of games and cleverly changed gears to attack the net with approach shots and serve and volley. Djokovic also served and volleyed twice behind his first serve, winning one of them. No other strategy he employed came close to winning 88 per cent (7/8) of the time. Alcaraz served and volleyed 10 times, winning eight, with all of them being behind a first serve.

Djokovic initially served and volleyed behind his second serve at 5-5, 0/15 in the opening set. It was a clever counter to Alcaraz’s ultra-deep return position. Djokovic hit a heavy kick second serve to Alcaraz’s backhand return and got well inside the service line for the volley, knocking off a backhand volley winner. In fact, all six of Djokovic’s serve and volley forays forward behind his second serve were to take advantage of Alcaraz standing extremely deep to return serve.

The advantage of Djokovic’s slow, heavy second serve is that it takes much longer than normal to reach the returner, enabling Djokovic excellent court position for his first volley well inside the baseline. The kick serve also jumps up high out of the opponent’s strike zone, giving them little power to use back at the server.

To break the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings is to become part of an exclusive group of players in the history of men’s professional tennis. Only 181 men have managed the feat across five decades, reflecting the difficulty of the achievement.

Even within such an exclusive club, some memberships still stand out. ATPTour.com continues its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings with a look at some of the most notable Top 10 records in history.

Top 10 Longevity

Nine hundred and twelve consecutive weeks. That is how long Rafael Nadal lived inside the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, rising into the Top 10 for the first time on 24th April 2005 at the age of 18, a month before capturing his first Roland Garros title. Fourteen trophies later at the clay-court major and the Spaniard finally left the Top 10 on 21st March 2023.

For much of his 18 years in the Top 10, Nadal was No. 1 or No. 2, though there were a few close calls, particularly when he was injured. In the summer of 2015 he lived dangerously at No. 10 but slid no further south, and in the winter of 2016-17, he dipped to No. 9 but was No. 1 by the end of the year.

“I’ve faced issues in terms of injuries during different parts of my career,” said Nadal after passing Jimmy Connors’ then-record mark of 789 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 in November 2020. “But I always hold the passion and the love to keep doing what I do, which is to play tennis.”

After Carlos Alcaraz fell just short of winning the Western & Southern Open final Sunday against Novak Djokovic, he gave an emotional speech to the Cincinnati crowd.

Later on when the Spaniard had a moment to reflect on his defeat, the 20-year-old realised that win or lose, he helped create a special moment in tennis history.

“I feel proud of myself, honestly. I [was] talking and I don't know why I was crying because I fought until the last ball. I almost beat one of the greatest of all time from our sport,” Alcaraz said in his press conference. “It's crazy to talk about it right now, but I left the court really, really happy [with] what I did.”

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The World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings was in control for a good portion of the match. Leading by a set and 4-2, he was two service holds from lifting the trophy. Even after letting slip his service break, he earned a championship point in the second-set tie-break.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz treated fans across the globe to a gruelling battle Sunday in the Western & Southern Open final. Yet only one man could lift the trophy in Cincinnati. After nearly four hours of excitement, in which Djokovic saved a championship point, the Serbian collected his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 title.

The instant classic even had the 23-time major champion Djokovic taken aback.

“It's a crazy match that we've been through today. Roller coaster of a match,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “I don't think I've played too many matches like this in my life.

“Maybe I can compare it to [against] Nadal at the 2012 Australian Open that went the distance. Obviously three sets today, but almost four hours. One of the most exciting and toughest mentally, emotionally, physically matches that I've ever had in my career.”

Djokovic and Alcaraz toiled for three hours, 49 minutes before the Serbian avenged his recent Wimbledon final loss to the Spaniard and levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

Carlos Alcaraz leaves Cincinnati as the No. 1 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But when Novak Djokovic defeated the Spaniard in an unforgettable Western & Southern Open final on Sunday, the Serbian put himself in prime position to reclaim World No. 1 at the US Open.

According to the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Alcaraz now leads Djokovic by only 20 points. Because the 20-year-old will be defending 2,000 points at the season's final major compared to none for Djokovic, who did not play the event last year, the 36-year-old is the overwhelming favourite to leave Flushing Meadows in the top spot.

Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings

All the Serbian needs to do in New York to guarantee his return to World No. 1 is win his first-round match, putting a return to top spot completely in his hands during the coming fortnight.

The reason Djokovic has such a big opportunity is because he managed to rally from a set and a break down against Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final. The result caused a seismic shift in the battle for World No. 1, tilting 800 points in the 39-time ATP Masters 1000 champion's favour. 

Fast-rising American Alex Michelsen claimed his first pro hard-court win after powering through the third set to defeat Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0 on the opening day of the Winston-Salem Open on Sunday night.

After dropping the second set in a tie-break, Michelsen was untouchable in the third, dropping just two points on serve and converting three of the four break point opportunities he earned. For the match, the 18-year-old fired seven aces and won 83 per cent of points on his first serve.

“I just locked in and didn’t miss too many balls towards the end,” Michelsen said. “It was one of the best sets I have played in a while. I was feeling a little tired after the second set but after I broke I found some energy and it was all good.

“I’ve seen him play before and he made the fourth round of the French, so he’s very good and competes really well. When I was up a set and a break in the second I knew it wasn’t over.”

Michelsen, who reached the final in Newport on grass in the week after Wimbledon, is making his first appearance since a first-round loss to Maxime Cressy at the Atlanta Open.

Novak Djokovic won one of the best matches in recent memory on Sunday when he saved one championship point en route to a 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) victory against Carlos Alcaraz for the Western & Southern Open title.

The 36-year-old rallied from a set and a break down against the World No. 1 and saved a championship point at 5/6 in the second-set tie-break to earn a record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 title. Despite letting slip an opportunity to serve for the title at 5-4 in the third set, he bounced back to triumph after a gripping three hours and 49 minutes in which both men showed incredible shotmaking and mental fortitude. 

“Crazy. Honestly, 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 what tournament, what category, what level, what player. It's unbelievable,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “From the beginning 'til the end we've both been through so much, so many ups and downs, highs and lows, incredible points, poor games, heat strokes, coming back.

“Just overall, one of the toughest and most exciting matches I was ever part of and these are the kinds of moments and matches that I continue to work for day in day out. I was never in doubt that I can deliver the 'A' game when it mattered the most and [I am] just thrilled.”

World No. 1 Alcaraz seemed in full control leading by a set and a break, and was two holds from capturing his Tour-leading seventh trophy of the season. This was on the back of a memorable Wimbledon final in which Alcaraz upset Djokovic in five sets to end his opponent’s dreams of becoming the first man to win the Grand Slam — capturing all four majors in one season — since Rod Laver in 1969.

Novak Djokovic extended his lead in the 'Big Titles' race on Sunday when he rallied from a set and a break down and saved championship point against Carlos Alcaraz to win the Western & Southern Open. The Serbian extended his ATP Masters 1000 titles record to 39.

Just one month after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic bounced back to earn revenge against the Spaniard in the Cincinnati final. The 36-year-old now owns 68 'Big Titles', which are Grand Slam championships, trophies at the Nitto ATP Finals and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and Olympic singles gold medals.

Djokovic has won one ‘Big Title’ for every 3.2 events played (68/215). He is nine trophies clear of his nearest rival, Rafael Nadal (59, 3.5). Roger Federer, who retired at last year's Laver Cup, won one Big Title for every 4.4 events contested (54/240).

The 36-year-old is the only player who has won all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. With his victory in Cincinnati, Djokovic has triumphed at all the Masters 1000 events at least three times except for Monte-Carlo, where he has emerged victorious twice.

Djokovic is now three Masters 1000 titles clear of Nadal (36). They are the only two players who have claimed at least 30 crowns at the elite level since the introduction of the series in 1990. Djokovic owns a 394-86 record at Masters 1000 events, winning at least one title at the level in 12 of the past 13 seasons.

Zhang Zhizhen overcame fierce resistance from Ilya Ivashka to notch a first-round victory Sunday at the Winston-Salem Open.

The World No. 62 Zhang prevailed 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 against Ivashka on his debut at the hard-court ATP 250 in North Carolina. The Chinese kept his cool impressively despite letting slip 11 set points in a remarkable second set, ultimately claiming it in a tie-break before accelerating through the decider for a two-hour, 22-minute victory.

“It was a very tough match,” said Zhang in his on-court interview. “At the beginning he was playing very well. Even though he lost the second set in the end he was fighting back, and I’m just happy to survive in the end.”

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Ivashka lifted his only ATP Tour title in Winston-Salem in 2021 and came out confidently in Sunday’s clash at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex. However, despite dropping the opening set and repeatedly failing to close out the second, Zhang assumed control of the match. Ivashka fended off eight set points alone to hold for 5-5 in the second set but Zhang’s persistence ultimately told.

For the second time in two days, Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the Western & Southern Open. This time around, it earned the Argentine duo its maiden ATP Masters 1000 triumph.

Gonzalez and Molteni saved championship point to down Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 3-6, 6-1, 11-9 on Sunday in Cincinnnati for the biggest title of their careers. Having also saved two match points in their semi-final win against second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, it capped an emotional weekend for the unseeded pair, which has now won a Tour-leading five titles in 2023.

“It means a lot. We have worked very hard for many years, not only this year, so it’s a great accomplishment,” said Molteni. “It was a very tough week, final, everything, so we are very happy with this title. It’s the biggest title we have, so we are very happy.”

Argentina all-stars ???

Gonzalez/Molteni save Championship point for a captivating 3-6 6-1 11-9 triumph over Murray/Venus@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/SHZrQxxoE1

Gonzalez in particular thrived under pressure at the tailend of the 84-minute final. The 40-year-old sent down a second-serve ace when facing championship point at 8/9 in the Match Tie-break, and two points later he struck the decisive return off a Venus serve as the pair improved to 5-0 in tour-level finals for the year.

Arthur Fils will compete for the first time this week at the Winston-Salem Open, where he hopes a happy experience from earlier this year will benefit him at the hard-court ATP 250.

“The last time I played the week before a Slam, it was great for me,” Fils told ATPTour.com on Saturday. “I played in Lyon, and I won [the title] just before Roland Garros. So I want to do the same [in Winston-Salem] just before the US Open. It's a great tournament. I want to take all the experience I can.”

The #NextGenATP Frenchman has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough year on the ATP Tour. After starting 2023 at No. 251 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, the 19-year-old will step on court against Brandon Nakashima or Jason Kubler at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex at a career-high No. 46. Has the speed of his rise taken the 19-year-old, seeded seventh in North Carolina, by surprise?

“A little bit [faster than expected], but it was in my mind for a long time,” said Fils. “Last year, I was playing some Challengers, but I was felt that I had the level for playing some ATP tournaments. And with a good start of the year like [I had], I can dream of big things. So it's not in my mind that something crazy has happened to me.”

As well as claiming his maiden ATP Tour crown on the Lyon clay, Fils has reached semi-finals in Montpellier, Marseille and Hamburg this year. He is clear about the specific improvements in his game that have powered his improved results.

Was the Wimbledon final the passing of the torch from Novak Djokovic to Carlos Alcaraz? The Western & Southern Open championship match will be an opportunity for Djokovic to prove it was not.

All week, fans have waited for the potential of a blockbuster showdown between Alcaraz and Djokovic, the clear top two players in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. That is exactly what they will get Sunday in Cincinnati.

“It’s great. It’s amazing for the sport, No. 1 and No. 2 in the world facing each other again in the final of a big event,” Djokovic said after defeating two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. “This is I guess what everybody wanted and expected in the beginning of the tournament, so here we are.”

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No matter who wins, Alcaraz will depart the Lindner Family Tennis Centre as World No. 1, having secured his standing by reaching the final. But another triumph over the 38-time ATP Masters 1000 champion will send a clear message — he is the standalone favourite heading into the US Open.

A Wimbledon final rematch is in the cards at the Western & Southern Open after Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev in the Cincinnati semi-finals on Saturday.

The 36-year-old overcame Zverev 7-6(5), 7-5 in a baseline slugfest under the lights at the ATP Masters 1000 event, where the 23-time major champion Djokovic will next clash against World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz for a fourth time (1-2).

"In very few of [Sascha's] service games where I had chances, I think I played well, particularly five-all [after] he broke my serve to stay in the match," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "I managed to bounce back, played a great game to break him again and seal the deal in the 12th game of the second set.

"I'm pleased. I think there's a few things I could've done better, but overall it's a straight-sets win against a great player in form, so I'm really happy."

In Djokovic and Zverev’s first meeting since the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals, both players brought a high level throughout the semi-final. An entertaining opening set featured Zverev surviving a 10-minute service game at 4-5 and later forcing a tie-break, where second seed Djokovic found greater consistency from his groundstrokes, converting his sixth set point to gain an advantage.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz saved a match point Saturday to survive a thrilling contest against Hubert Hurkacz in the Western & Southern Open semi-finals.

The Spaniard found his best level in pressure moments to down Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 and reach his eighth final of the season. Alcaraz fended off a match point on serve at 4-5 in the second set and later won six consecutive points from 1/4 in the tie-break to force a decider.

Despite failing to convert any of his first ten break points, the 20-year-old stayed focussed, earning a pivotal break in the fourth game of the third set and later closing the match after two hours, 16 minutes.

"It was a mental semi-final, I had to stay there," Alcaraz said in his on court-interview. "I had a lot of break points, it was really tough. Obviously saving a match point is never easy but with my coach, we were talking about staying positive all the time and to stay there. We knew I was going to have my chances and I tried to take it. Every match against Hubi is really, really tough but I'm really, really happy that I was able to win."

With his 53rd match win of the season, Alcaraz secured the top spot in Monday's Pepperstone ATP Rankings regardless of his result in the Cincinnati final, where he will meet World No. 2 Novak Djokovic or 16th seed Alexander Zverev.

Jamie Murray and Michael Venus moved to within one win of capturing their fourth tour-level title together this season on Saturday when they advanced to the Western & Southern Open final.

The British-Kiwi pair overcame Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-4 to reach their first ATP Masters 1000 title match as a team. Murray and Venus were strong on serve in the crucial moments in Cincinnati, saving all six break points they faced to advance after 77 minutes.

With their victory, they have jumped two spots to 10th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. Murray and Venus, who clinched trophies in Dallas, Banja Luka and Geneva earlier this year, can rise to seventh if they lift the title on Sunday.

Murray, 37, is aiming to triumph in Cincinnati for the second time, having won the crown with Bruno Soares in 2018. Venus, 35, is seeking his second Masters 1000 title. He lifted the trophy in Paris in 2021 with Tim Puetz.

Murray and Venus will face Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in the final.

Bradley Klahn’s career is a raw story of persevering in spite of obstacles to achieve a childhood dream.

Turning 33 on Sunday, the American retired from pro tennis this week at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Stanford, California. Klahn hangs up his racquets after soaking in every minute of his 11 years on Tour.

“It never felt like a job to me to have to go and hit tennis balls and try to improve,” Klahn told ATPTour.com. “I've been very lucky for 11 years to play professionally. Not many people get to take their childhood passion and turn it into a professional thing. I am fortunate that I can say I did it.”

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An eight-time ATP Challenger Tour champion, Klahn climbed to a career-high No. 63 in 2014. Some of the lefty’s fond memories include playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2018 and the adrenaline rush he felt when a home crowd was chanting, ‘U-S-A!’ as he won a five-setter to secure his first major main-draw victory at the 2012 US Open.

The North American hard-court swing continues this week at the Winston-Salem Open, where Borna Coric is the top seed at the ATP 250 event.

After consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, the Tour moves to North Carolina ahead of the US Open. ATPTour.com looks at five storylines to watch over the coming week.

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1) Coric Top Seed: Twelve months ago, Coric captured the biggest trophy of his career during the North American hard-court swing when he soared to his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati. This year, the Croatian is still searching for his best form on hard, having suffered a first-round defeat in Toronto and a second-round exit in Cincinnati. Making his third appearance in Winston-Salem, the top seed will be eager for a deep run to build confidence ahead of the US Open.

2) Griekspoor Targets Third Title Of Year: Second seed Tallon Griekspoor has enjoyed a career-best season. The Dutchman, who will compete in North Carolina at a career-high No. 25 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, has won tour-level titles in Pune and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Having advanced to the final in Washington earlier this month, the 27-year-old will be eager to put aside disappointing first-round exits in Toronto and Cincinnati and get back to winning ways in Winston-Salem.

Jack Draper returns to the ATP Tour this week at the Winston-Salem Open after spending two months sidelined by a shoulder injury. The British lefty sustained the injury in his opening match at Roland Garros in May, forcing him to miss the grass swing.

“At the French Open I hurt my shoulder. I thought it was quite insignificant at the time but when I came back preparing for the grass it turned out it was a bit of a tear that went into my tendon, so I had to take about a month and a half out,” Draper told ATPTour.com ahead of the ATP 250 event.

“A tear in my shoulder isn’t the best. It didn’t take too long, but still one month to two months out of the Tour, so I am trying to come back and stay injury free from now.”

Draper reached the semi-finals at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Winnipeg last week in his first tournament back. The 21-year-old is eager to increase his match load in the coming weeks, but stressed the importance of managing expectations.

“I think with these sorts of injuries, especially the tendons, you need to be careful with them,” said Draper, who also missed large periods of the 2021 season with injury. “It takes time and you have to rehab them properly. I wouldn’t say I am completely out of the woods, I have to keep on doing the right things for it and hopefully it will be ok and keep improving week by week.

Novak Djokovic on Friday evening became the second player to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, joining Carlos Alcaraz at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 12-19 November. Djokovic guaranteed his spot at the season finale when he defeated Taylor Fritz in the Western & Southern Open quarter-finals.

The Serbian has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals 16 times, tied for third-most qualifications in tournament history with Jimmy Connors. Djokovic has only failed to earn his place in the prestigious event once since 2007 (in 2017).

One year ago, Djokovic tied Roger Federer’s record of six Nitto ATP Finals trophies. He will now have the opportunity to take the record by himself in Italy.

Djokovic has largely dominated at the majors this season, winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros, while also reaching the Wimbledon final, where only Alcaraz was able to stop him. The 36-year-old owns a 36-5 record in 2023, including an 8-3 record against Top 10 opposition.

A three-time titlist this season — he also triumphed in Adelaide — Djokovic is in contention to claim a record-extending eighth ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honour. He is second behind only Alcaraz in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

After improving to 19-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against Gael Monfils on Thursday, Novak Djokovic made it a perfect 7-0 against Taylor Fritz with a victory against the home favourite on Friday night at the Western & Southern Open.

The Serbian dominated early and late in a 6-0, 6-4 win against the American, battling back from an early break deficit in set two to advance to the Cincinnati semi-finals. The World No. 2 will next face Alexander Zverev on Saturday.

"Every match is a new match, a new challenge for both of us," Djokovic said of his perfect record against Fritz. "We never faced each other here. Obviously being the No. 1 American, he gets a lot of crowd support.

"I just managed to get off the blocks really strong, played an almost perfect, flawless first set. Then I started off really poorly in the second and handed him the break, but from 2-4 down I played really four solid games in the second. Just overall a great performance."

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