FEDERER WINS RECORD FIFTH CINCINNATI CROWN; TIES NADAL’S MASTERS 1000 MARK

Written by: Staff on 19th August 2012

FEDERER WINS RECORD FIFTH CINCINNATI CROWN; TIES NADAL'S MASTERS 1000 MARK

epa03342673 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during the Men's Final against Andy Murray of Britain during the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 05 August 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Originally found here: (http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/08/33/Cincinnati-Sunday-Federer-Faces-Djokovic-In-Historic-Final.aspx).

World No. 1 Roger Federer became the first player in the Open Era to win five Cincinnati trophies, defeating second-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-0, 7-6(7) in Sunday’s Western & Southern Open final. It was the first Top 2 final in Open Era history at the event.

Federer tied Rafael Nadal for the most ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns with 21, adding to triumphs in Indian Wells (d. Isner) and Madrid (d. Berdych) this season. He is 6-2 in finals this year and celebrates his first title since capturing his 17th Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon (d. Murray).

Djokovic was appearing in his fourth final in five years at the tournament, but dropped to 0-4 in those matches. He was bidding to become just the fourth player since 1990 to win the Canada-Cincinnati double after defeating Richard Gasquet in last week’s Rogers Cup final in Toronto.

Neither player had dropped serve entering the match, but Federer broke Djokovic in the opening game and stormed to a one-set lead in just 20 minutes. Federer converted three of his four break points, while Djokovic tossed in four double faults to lose the first bagel set in 28 meetings with Federer (82 sets).

The 25-year-old Serbian settled into the second set to force a tie-break, and held set point at 7-6. But Federer wiped it away with an aggressive tactic at the net and cracked back-to-back forehand winners to claim victory in 80 minutes. Federer was not broken en route to his title run and improved to 16-12 against Djokovic.

With his showing this week, Djokovic vaulted ahead of Sam Querrey for first place in the 2012 Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge Standings. Djokovic will win the series unless Querrey goes on to claim the Winston-Salem Open title.