Federer captured his 87th tour-level title and 24th at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 stage. Having beaten World No. 2 Andy Murray in the semi-finals, it marked the first time he had toppled the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings in consecutive matches en route to a title. Federer will reclaim the No. 2 spot from the Scot when the new rankings are released on Monday.
He takes home $731,000 and 1,000 Emirates ATP Rankings points, adding to Cincinnati titles won in 2005, '07, '09-10, '12 and '14. The Swiss finishes the week not conceding a break of serve in 49 service games.
FEDERER'S HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS
Tournament
Titles
Halle
8
Cincinnati
7
Wimbledon
7
Dubai
7
Djokovic, meanwhile, was vying to complete the Career Golden Masters, falling to 0-5 in Cincinnati finals (2008-09, '11-12). A 24-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 champion, he falls to 54-26 in tour-level finals.
Federer owns a 21-20 edge in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry, exacting revenge on Djokovic following the Serb's victory in their most recent meeting - the 2015 Wimbledon final. Djokovic is 3-2 this year, also claiming wins on the clay of Rome and hard courts of Indian Wells. Federer's other victory came in the Dubai title match.
How The Final Was Won
Federer had adopted an ultra aggressive mentality in cruising through the draw thus far, and the Swiss carried that same approach into Sunday's final. He won 40 per cent of return points entering the encounter and pressed for an early break immediately. Djokovic saved a trio of break points in the third game and another after a six-minute fifth game.
The opener would proceed to a tie-break, where Federer would snatch an early mini-break. A majestic looping backhand clipped the baseline to give the Basel native a 3-1 lead. He would not look back, taking 10 of the last 11 points to claim the first set. He hit 20 winners and won 16 of 21 net points to win the opener in 52 minutes.
Federer would continue applying pressure on the Djokovic serve as the match progressed, surging to a 3-0 lead in the second set after the top seed double faulted to hand the initial break to the Swiss. He would hold serve to the finish line, striking 32 winners and seven aces in total.
atpworldtour.com
Lucky #7!. #87 over all.
Finally he gets the better of Djokovic!.
And what a convincing win. Did not get broken once all tournament!.
It almost makes up for his Wimbledon loss.
With one week to go before the final slam of the year. Roger has gotta be feeling pretty good.
Could this be his time for #18? (one can only hope).
Also gotta love Novak's comment in his speech about making it to the final 5 times and not having won it & having to wait till Roger retires!.
I guess you will Novak, I guess you will :D.
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