Djokovic ends jinx to win Masters matched set

NOVAK Djokovic ended a careerlong jinx, lifting the trophy in Cincinnati to complete a matched set of Masters 1000 titles.

Djokovic, who came up empty in five prior Cincinnati finals, defeated seven-time winner Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

The former world No. 1 became the first man to win all nine of the ATP’s Masters 1000 events in the elite series’ current configuration.

Federer, meanwhile, lost a final in the hardcourt US Open tune-up for the first time.

“I played five finals (here) before, and most of those finals I lost to this great man, Roger … thank you for letting me win here once in Cincinnati,” Djokovic joked.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, said his game wasn’t sharp — but he didn’t want to take anything away from Djokovic’s achievement.

“Novak is a great champion,” Federer said. “This is about him making history.”

Federer’s streak of 100 straight unbroken service games in Cincy was ended by Djokovic in the seventh game of the first set.

Meanwhile, Kiki Bertens saved a championship point before going on to earn a Cincinnati Open triumph over a fatigued Simona Halep.

Bertens came back from the brink against the Romanian top seed in an exhausting second-set tie-breaker, then won five of the final six games in the decider to prevail 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

The victory gave the Dutchwoman the sixth and biggest title of her WTA career. A gutsy forehand by Bertens saw her stave off a match point in the tie-breaker before she went on to take control in the third set and eventually served a sixth ace to finish the contest after an absorbing two hours and five minutes.

“I cannot find words for this moment. I’m so happy,” Bertens said on court.

The victory was the 26-year-old Bertens’ first over a world No. 1 and her sixth consecutive win over a top-10 opponent.