Novak Djokovic made history last night in Cincinnati as he became the first singles player to achieve a Career Golden Masters, something Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray have not managed to do. He has now won all nine ATP 1000 Masters events and what's more impressive is he did it in style comfortably neutralising the threat of Roger Federer and sweeping him aside in straight sets!
Previous Results Did Read Well for Djokovic
Before the final it didn't look good for Novak on paper, he had lost five times in the final before in Cincinnati including three times against Federer so anyone could have been forgiven to think he was going to stumble at the last hurdle again. Leading up to the final Djokovic had needed three sets to overcome the last four opponents where as Federer had won most of his matches in straight sets.
Classic Djokovic is Back...
But in what was a night of classic Djokovic tennis, he gave only one break point opportunity to Federer on serve for the entire two sets flying in the face of previous service performances in Cincinnati and taking his head to head record against Federer to 24-22, including winning four of their last five meetings against the world's greatest player.
Early Signs of Momentum
The signs looked positive for Djokovic as early as the first game of the match where he already threatened twice to break the seemingly unbreakable Federer on serve. Federer had to save two break points. Let's not forget Federer had not conceded a service game the entire tournament and rarely had been taken to break point on his serve and here was the Serb doing so within the first game of the match!
After that early scare for Federer the match settled into a normal state of play with both players holding serve. Djokovic unlike his previous matches was finding consistent depth with his ground strokes - it's almost like him and Murray do the same thing everytime, they raise their game against the world's best. Federer was coming in and finishing points off at the net beautifully too so the match was evenly balanced.
Djokovic Consistency Too Much for Federer to Endure
The pivotal point of the first set came in the 7th game where Djokovic was at it again. He managed to bring the score up to deuce before breaking at the first chance of asking this time. He didn't have to do anything particularly spectacular to break, he was simply doing what he does best, great defense off Federer's ground strokes and replying deep in the court to keep the Swiss champion pend back behind his baseline. Federer's forehand eventually gave way with an unforced error giving Djokovic the only break of the set, at this point you knew it was curtains for Federer, atleast for the first set. Djokovic did not let up on his own service game holding comfortably to claim set one.
Match Heat's Up Early in the Second
It didn't take long for some real drama to kick in the second. Having held comfortably Federer managed to break Djokovic with just a single break opportunity which Novak conceded to Federer through a sloppy double fault on serve, much to the delight of the packed Cincinnati crowd.
It looked like the momentum may shift in Federer's favour but then you'd be underestimating the resilience Djokovic had shown in all his previous matches leading up to the final.
Djokovic immediately broke back making amends for his double fault. He managed to get hold of a Federer serve that everyone with the exception of maybe Murray would have never been able to return and this drew an error from Federer on his approach. Perhaps the greatest strength that Djokovic possesses is his reflexes and mobility which allow him to get so many balls back into play which inevitably increases the number of unforced errors from his opponents. It's simple maths and no player even Roger Federer can overcome the hard cold fact of probability.
Deja Vu for Federer
Coincidentally the decisive moment in the second set came at the same time as in the first and the scenario was identical. From 15-40 down Djokovic managed to get the score back to deuce before wrestling the game away from Federer on the first break point opportunity he had.
Djokovic's Key Pass
Again the break was classic Djokovic, what looked like a cheap service point for Federer down the T was blocked back into play thanks to Novak's unbelievable reactions and flexibility. From here he then replied to Federer's approach shot with an exceptionally accurate low dipping forehand down the line to win the game. There was no coming back from that devastating blow for Federer dealt by the inevitable Golden Master of tennis himself, Novak Djokovic.
History Maker!
Djokovic has now etched his name into Masters history becoming the only singles tennis player to ever win all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles and possibly the only one who ever will! It's a much deserved accomplishment by Novak who had only come back from an elbow injury earlier this year and who many had written off as never returning to his former best.
Well tonight he proved his critics wrong and perhaps he captured the hearts and minds of a few more tennis fans who have always favoured Federer ahead of the Serb. A golden crown for a golden performance, if Roger Federer is the King of Tennis, Novak Djokovic is now the New Master of the sport!
Watch: Highlights of a Classic Novak Djokovic Performance & History Making Match
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