Alcaraz: 'I have another lesson from Djokovic'

"I learned another lesson from Djokovic, the true champion. With this tournament, I think next year I will come back stronger," Alcaraz said during the award ceremony, minutes after breaking down in tears because closely lost 7-5, 6-7, 6-7.

Alcaraz won the first set, then led 4-2 in the second and earned Championship-point in the subsequent tie-break but missed. He showed his bravery in the third set, when he reclaimed the break-point and repeatedly saved Djokovic's Championship-point. In the final points of the third set tie-break series, Alcaraz lacked accuracy and lost 4-7 on aggregate.

Alcaraz this season lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, and then avenged in the Wimbledon final. He then said he had learned a valuable lesson while fighting Djokovic. "It was a long game, we both had our chances. Of course, there was only one winner and today it was Djokovic."

Djokovic praised Alcaraz's bravery in his speech to receive the championship trophy. "I'm Spaniard," replied Alcaraz when the senior said he was really tired of playing long series of balls. "Oh, that's right. Spaniards never surrender. I've had that experience before," Djokovic replied.

Alcaraz missed out on his fifth Masters 1000 title but secured the number one seed spot when he headed to the US Open this week. Djokovic increased his Masters 1000 record to 39 titles. He also hit 1,069 ATP wins, one more than Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl. On Djokovic, there are only two people left: Jimmy Connors (1,274) and Roger Federer (1,251).

Djokovic rises to third on the list of most ATP champions, with 95 titles - one more than Lendl. Connors holds a record 109 titles, Federer is second with 103. Djokovic will take back the world number one from Alcaraz if he wins the US Open.