Djokovic first to clinch Masters 1000 set
CINCINNATI: Novak Djokovic ended a career-long jinx, lifting the trophy in Cincinnati at last to complete a matched set of Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic, who came up empty in five prior Cincinnati finals, defeated seventime 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 tuneup 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.
“This is a dream come true,” Djokovic said. “I finally won Cincinnati after six finals, some against the greatest ever, Roger.”
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.
The Serb now leads Federer 24-22 and has won their last three encounters.
BERTENS SHOCKS HALEP
Dutch challenger Kiki Bertens profited from a third-set collapse from Simona Halep to score the biggest win of her career Sunday, beating the world number one 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 in the Cincinnati final.
Halep, who won the Montreal trophy a week ago, had came into the final on a nine-match winning streak. “I’ve lost three finals here, but maybe I will able to win one at this tournament because I love to play here,” said Halep, who fell to Serena Williams in the 2015 final.
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That’s what the headline should be about, this is such an amazing accomplishment. I think it’s difficult to win Masters 1000s. These performances don’t come easy.
ROGER FEDERER, On Djokovic’s feat