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— Title 99 or The Masters 1000 Sweep?

No Spoilers 🎥

If you don't want to see the results yet, and want to catch up with the highlights, stop scrolling now! Links (some may get removed):

Federer 🎥 Djokovic

Results 🎾

💥 = Beatdown \\ 🤕 = Injury \\ ‼️ = Upset

Djokovic d Federer: 6-4, 6-4

The outcome of this final was always going to come down to which player could raise their game after a week of mostly mediocre performances. The 1st set saw Djokovic retain his impressive return of serve (winning 41% of 2nd serve return points vs Federer) that vanquished Cilic in the deciding set on Saturday. But importantly Novak’s own serve, something he’d struggled with at times in that semi-final, was much improved. The Serb was utterly dominant in his own service games in the opener, winning 80% of his 1st serve points and a staggering 89% of his 2nd serve points (for comparison Djokovic was at 43% for the match, and 13% for the 3rd set, on 2nd serve points won vs Cilic). This was due to a mixture of solid, varied serving and Federer’s struggle to make improvements on a below par returning performance. It was unsurprising therefore that, after playing a pretty poor service game to get broken, Roger didn’t look very likely to mount a comeback in the opening set, given how uncontested Novak’s serve had been.

Into the 2nd set and Federer immediately found some much better range on return of serve, breaking Djokovic and looking more like the 7-time champion, to take a 2-0 lead. But the momentum didn’t last long, with the Swiss playing a very poor service game when trying to consolidate the break in the following game. A routine missed volley and another unforced error cost him dearly, and we were back on serve with Roger fuming. At 3-3 the Swiss was cruising, 40-0 up on serve, before absolutely imploding, dumping routine groundstrokes into the middle of the net, before Novak hit a brilliant pass to grab the crucial break to lead 4*-3*. Djokovic, after the early blip on serve at the beginning of the set, started looking very secure once again (aided by some poor Federer returns on 2nd serves) The Serb comfortably served out his remaining service games to win his first, elusive Cincinnati title.

Djokovic: One-Shot Rallies Won 25

• 4 aces

• 21 return errors from Federer (11 backhand / 10 forehand). Source

Federer: One-Shot Rallies Won: 25

• 11 aces

• 14 return errors from Djokovic (8 forehand / 6 backhand). Source

A great win for Novak, who, regardless of Federer’s level, got his tactics 100% right, and retains some great momentum post-Wimbledon despite struggling in Toronto. As for Roger, no two ways about it, he was bad. And given that conditions and balls in NY suit his game less than Cincy, it could be an uphill battle for the Swiss unless he finds improvements fast or gets a particularly kind US Open draw.

Neither Djokovic nor Federer played anywhere near their best tennis this week. But simply it was Novak who got quite a bit better, raising his game for the final. Roger didn't.

— The rarest of all Novak’s Masters Titles. (TennisTV)

Shots Of The Day 😮

— This is a shot Novak has missed for much of the past two years. The stepping in, offensive backhand down the line. He even missed it pretty consistently for most of this week, but it came through at an important time today, 0-15 down on his serve while serving for the 1st set. (TennisTV)

— Giving Federer fans everywhere PTSD from the 2011 USO Semi Final. (TennisTV)

— Beautiful backhand from Federer. (TennisTV)

— Just like yesterday vs Cilic, Novak secured the decisive break with a curling forehand pass down the line. Full Point

Interview & Press Best Bits 🎤

Djokovic post-win:

“I played five finals before, and most of those finals I lost to this great man, Roger. Roger, thank you for your kind words, and thank you for letting me win once in Cincinnati.” Video

“It was a tough match, maybe Roger didn’t feel his best but he’s a great champion and probably the best ever to play so it’s always a please to share the court with him. Video

(Matt): Sporting to acknowledge Federer’s level. Also… “probably” 🌶.

"This was definitely the best match I played all week.” Source

“One of the most special moments of my career.” Source

“In the past when I had matches coming back from a set and a break down, I would get to the finals and play my best tennis. It happened here as well." Source

"The O2 in London is a great venue for the Finals, you feel like a rockstar. But I believe the ATP Finals should travel more, we have been there 10 years, it's too long. The biggest event ATP owns should be leveraged to promote tennis around the world." Source

Federer post-loss:

“I had a fun time. It’s one of my favourite tournaments to play and it was nice to be back this year. I hope to be back next year.” (On court interview)

“Congratulations to Novak for writing history. It’s an amazing effort… not just today but throughout your career. You should be very proud.” (On court interview)

(Matt): Nice words from Roger. Classy speeches all-round.

"Novak, he's a great champion and this is what this should be about, this press conference: not about me missing second-serve returns; it's about him making history. That's my opinion." Source

“Very disappointing performance for a final, my return game was just a horror. I couldn’t hit a clean shot on a second serve return... but all in all I’m in a good mood for the USO, I‘m healthy and injury free.” Source

(Matt): This was said to the Swiss press, not in the main presser.

What’s On This Week?⏰

— Winston-Salem Open (ATP 250) —

Full Draw (PDF)

Projected Quarterfinals:

Top Half

Krajinovic vs De Minaur

Cecchinato vs Dzumhur/Querrey

Bottom Half

Johnson vs Edmund

Chung vs Carreno Busta

Monday’s Order of Play

Extras & Stats 🔍📊🎤

— Federer’s depressing answer about the ITF not listening to player concerns/suggestions, whether they come from Djokovic or him. Source

— Nice moment post-final. (WorldFeed Coverage)

— Federer’s US Open Kit. Source

Kevin Anderson @KAndersonATP Novak was @CincyTennis runner-up 5 times. A week after we play dubs (go #Djokerson) he wins the title. Coincidence? 🤔🤷🏼‍♂😂



Seriously though, congrats @DjokerNole on an amazing achievement. There’s a reason no one had completed a Golden Masters until now. Well done bud 👊

— Djokovic and Anderson’s bromance continues.

enrico maria riva @enricomariariva Djokovic gained 533.350$ in 2007 to win Miami



After 11 years Nole gained 1.088.450$ to win Cincinnati

— Tennis inflation.

Novak Djokovic now holds at least one title at all 9 Masters 1000 event’s. He is the only man in history to do so. A reinforcement of how incredible an all-rounder the Serb is. He has excelled on every surface and at every tournament:

Indian Wells: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Miami: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Monte Carlo: 🏆🏆

Madrid: 🏆🏆

Rome: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Canadian Open: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Cincinnati: 🏆

Shanghai: 🏆🏆🏆

Paris: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

A nice statistical breakdown of the final from Craig O’Shannessy, who happens to be working for the Djokovic camp. He has been a part of masterminding Novak’s last two big wins: vs Rafa at Wimbledon and vs Roger in Cincy.

Numbers 📊:

Djokovic now holds 31 Masters 1000 titles. 2nd on all time list behind Nadal (33).

After holding serve early in the first set today, Federer crossed the mark of 100 consecutive service games held in Cincinnati. The streak died 2 games later. RIP.

Djokovic's (updated) record when he wins the first set vs. Federer: 17-1. Lone loss was Dubai 2014.

To win this years Cincy title, Novak had to beat Federer (2015 champion), Cilic (2016 champion) and Dimitrov (2017 champion).

Federer’s 99th title will have to wait. Has the chance to win it in New York and then the 100th in Shanghai.

Djokovic moves up to 6th in the ATP rankings. Also improves to 3rd in the ATP race, less than 200 points behind Federer and 2300 behind Nadal.

Djokovic, seeded 6th, will be a horrible quarterfinal opponent for one of the top 4 seeds at the US Open.

LOL 😂

— TFW you’re dumping groundstrokes into the net like it’s 2013

Source: doublefault28

Roger: “What the hell is this smaller vase?! Mirka’s gonna put this in the guest bathroom, right next to the Monte Carlo runner-up plate and that Madrid trophy abomination”.

Novak: “No trades man. I already have too many of those clogging up my house.”

(Photo: AP)

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Game, Set & Match👋

— The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt.

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See you on Friday/Saturday for the US Open Draw Breakdown/Preview 🙌!

