Djokovic vs Alcaraz. More please.

Tennis's latest rivalry now appointment viewing

In a world full of discord and echo chambers, I think most of us can actually agree on something:  

Bring on the U.S. Open and any other tournament that Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both see fit to enter (or are fit enough to enter after Sunday’s heavyweight bout).

Their rivalry might be new but it is already appointment viewing, already one of the best things in sports.

It is strength against strength, elasticity against elasticity but also autumn versus spring. Djokovic is 36 and has been winning guts-and-glory matches like Sunday’s in Cincinnati for more than a decade. Alcaraz turned 20 in May and has just begun to fight.

Who knows how long this riveting, intergenerational alchemy can last, particularly at this torrid pace? But we do know how long Sunday’s mutual masterwork of a final lasted in the Midwestern heat and humidity before Djokovic finally, finally, finally, finally, finally finished it off on his fifth championship point: