23. 08. 2009. ·
Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic failed in attempt to capture his fourteenth career title at the Western&Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati. He lost to world no.1 Roger Federer in straight sets 1-6 5-7 in 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Novak looked tired in the first set and couldn’t find his rhythm. He saved six break points in the second game before he got broken. Federer broke Djokovic’s service once again in the fourth game and then held for 5-0 lead. The Swiss won the set 6-1.
World no.4 looked much better at the beginning of the second set. He put the pressure on Roger in the second game and capitalised on his third break point. No.1 seed fought back in the fifth game, broke Novak’s service and then held to level the result to 3-3. The Serb faced scare in the seventh game, but saved three break points to keep the lead. Djokovic failed to convert a break/set point in the tenth game. Federer earned two break points in the next game, converted the second and then closed the set 7-5 to win his 16th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title (61st career title, third in Cincinnati).
Djokovic served 3 aces to Federer’s 7.
He hit 18 winners, 10 less than the world no.1, and made 26 unforced errors to his opponent’s 21.
The Serb capitalised on 1 of his 4 chances for break, while the Swiss converted 4 of his 15 break points.
Federer now leads 8-4 against Djokovic (6-3 on hard court). Nole defended 600 ATP points from last year, when he also lost in the finals (Murray won in two tie-breaks).
As a runner-up Novak gets 222,000 dollars.
The 22-year old Djokovic will now have a week off, before the last Grand Slam of the season US Open starts. World no.4 reached the semifinals in New York last year when he was also defeated by Roger Federer.
