Federer beats Djokovic for fifth Cincinnati title
World number one Roger Federer won his sixth title of the season as he beat second-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-0, 7-6 (9/7) to claim a record fifth Cincinnati Masters on Sunday. The Swiss top seed got through a perfect week without losing serve to capture his 76th career trophy. It was also his 16th win in 28 meetings against world number two Djokovic and it means he will go into the US Open as clear favourite having become the first man to win five titles at the Cincinnati event.
Federer's success on Sunday marked his 21st Masters 1000 trophy, pulling him level with Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. At the age of 31, Wimbledon champion Federer also became the oldest Cincinnati winner since Andre Agassi who was 34 when he won in 2004. Federer had already won Masters events this year at Indian Wells and Madrid and is 6-2 in finals in 2012, a year highlighted by a seventh Wimbledon title, his 17th career major.
World number two Djokovic was bidding to become just the fourth player since 1990 to win the Canada-Cincinnati double after defeating Richard Gasquet in last week's 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 Serb settled into the second set to force a tie-break, and held set point at 7-6. But Federer wiped it away before hitting back-to-back forehand winners to claim victory in 80 minutes.