Extraordinary scenes in Cincinnati as fireworks go off right when Novak Djokovic earns match point against Alexander Zverev

In a bizarre turn of events, fireworks went off right when Novak Djokovic got to match point in his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev at the 2023 Cincinnati Open.

Playing in Cincinnati for the first time since 2020, Djokovic has shown no signs of rust and is yet to drop a set in the tournament. Up against Germany's Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, the Serb held his nerve to win 7-6(5), 7-5 and qualify for the final.

Coincidentally, right when Djokovic got to match point, fireworks went off somewhere outside the stadium.

"New Year's came early," Djokovic said to the crowd behind him.

When Djokovic got to his second match point, he was interrupted again. Eventually, he served out the game to win the match.

Soon after the win, the Serb turned to the camera and commented on the fireworks incident.

"Fireworks, yeah!" the tennis icon wrote on the camera.

Novak Djokovic will lock horns with Carlos Alcaraz in the final of Cincinnati Open

Western & Southern Open - Day 7

Novak Djokovic will take on World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Cincinnati Open 2023. This is the third time in two months the top two ranked players will face each other.

Alcaraz, who lost unexpectedly to Tommy Paul in the Canadian Open quarterfinals, is looking to win his first title since his triumph at Wimbledon. The Spaniard beat Hubert Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals of the Cincinnati event.

Djokovic and Alcaraz's last meeting on the tour was an epic battle. In the final of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Alcaraz beat the four-time defending champion to win his maiden Wimbledon title.

Djokovic last won the Cincinnati Open in 2020, the last time he played it. He defeated Milos Raonic in the final that year.