Djokovic proved he could still hang tough with the next generation over five sets when he recovered to beat Alcaraz on Tuesday.

But even in defeat, the Trojans showed they could hang tough with a potential Big Ten power.

The Lycra-clad combatants, including Wolf, Warrior, Shadow and Cobra, became household names thanks to their prowess in the likes of Hang Tough and Duel, with challengers traversing an exhausting assault course in the Eliminator showdown.

Morgan State: With leading scorer Wynston Tabbs injured, the Bears were still able to hang tough in a rare opportunity against a ranked team at home.

With that still the defining constant in relations and both leaders under immense pressure from domestic constituencies — the military, ultra-nationalist political factions and assorted industry groups — to hang tough on key bilateral issues, don’t be surprised if the slide towards crisis and confrontation regains momentum in 2024.