NOVAK DJOKOVIC REGAINS ROGERS CUP TITLE BY BEATING KEI NISHIKORI ON SUNDAY IN TORONTO BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 1st August 2016

NOVAK DJOKOVIC REGAINS ROGERS CUP TITLE BY BEATING KEI NISHIKORI ON SUNDAY IN TORONTO BY RICKY DIMON

epa05450554 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the Rogers Cup trophy after defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan in the final of the Rogers Cup Men?s Singles tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 31 July 2016. EPA/WARREN TODA |

Rarely is anyone any match for Novak Djokovic at Masters 1000 events–and that’s even with a full crop of top players on board. Take Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal out of the mix and Djokovic was expected to roll to this week’s Rogers Cup title.

Which is exactly what he did.

The world No. 1 completed his perfect run–without the loss of even a single set–when he defeated Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday in Toronto. Djokovic struck five aces, did not double-fault a single time, and earned three service breaks before getting the job done in one hour and 22 minutes.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the final of the Rogers Cup Men’s Singles tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 31 July 2016. EPA/WARREN TODA

“My two best performances came in the semifinals and the final,” said Djokovic, who picked up the pace in the wake of some early-round doldrums to drub an in-form Gael Monfils in Saturday’s semis. “It came at the right moment for me. “It’s a process like any other that has happened many times in my career, where I would start a tournament still feeling a little bit uncomfortable on the court and searching for my rhythm, and then, as the tournament goes on, I find that proper comfort level with shots, with the way I feel, with my mental attitude.”

The top-seeded Serb showcased that mentality after he got broken for the first time all day to see Nishikori get back on level terms at 3-3 in the second set. Djokovic steadied the ship, eventually regained the break at 5-5, and promptly served things out to clinch the title.

“Today I think he stepped it up,” Nishikori said of his opponent. “He raised his level a lot from these past couple days. He played really deep, and he didn’t give me any free points. He was especially serving really well, so I didn’t have many chances for my return game. I was really feeling the pressure every game.

“I think I need more experience in these kind of matches, but this is a great week even though I lost to Novak. It was the second time this year in the final of a Masters 1000. I think I’m getting closer and closer. I hope I can get a title as soon as possible.”

Djokovic now owns 30 such titles, including four at the Rogers Cup. His first triumph at this event came back in 2007 and he also prevailed in 2011 and 2012 before finishing runner-up to Andy Murray last year.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Kei Nishikori of Japan in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the final of the Rogers Cup Men’s Singles tennis tournament in Toronto, Canada, 31 July 2016. EPA/WARREN TODA

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Rogers Cup, Sports, Tennis News, Toronto tennis

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ikesenmarble says:

August 1, 2016 at 4:39 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Djokovic Regains #RogersCup Title By Beating Nishikori On Sunday In #Toronto By @Dimonator
https://t.co/qNPVOY8Rww https:…