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Roger Federer made a slow start at the Cincinnati Masters, winning one match from the first four trips to Ohio! Roger changed his fortune in Cincinnati in 2005 after winning the title. He lost to Andy Murray a year later and returned with high ambitions in 2007.
Federer earned his second Cincinnati Masters trophy following a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over James Blake in 65 minutes. It was Roger's milestone 50th ATP title and the 14th at the Masters 1000 level. Blake fought in his second and last Masters 1000 final, seeking the fourth Cincinnati crown for the American players in the past five years.
Roger and James met in the opening round in Cincinnati 2005, with the Swiss prevailing 7-6, 7-5. The American failed to repeat that performance two years later, staying on the court for just over an hour and failing to stun a better-ranked opponent.
Roger had to work much harder in the semi-final, trailing a break in the final set before prevailing over Lleyton Hewitt in the tie break.
Roger Federer won the 50th ATP title in Cincinnati 2007 at 26.
The title match was one-sided, with Federer dominating thanks to his initial shot.
He struggled a bit on the second serve but fended off five break chances to mount the pressure on the other side. James had three aces and dropped 45% of the points in his games to experience three breaks from six chances offered to Roger.
The American had 15 winners and 24 unforced errors. At the same time, the Swiss delivered 25 winners and 19 mistakes. He dominated the shortest points up to four strokes to seal the deal and become the ninth player in the Open era with 50 ATP titles.
Federer held in the encounter's opening game with a service winner and instantly broke James' serve to take a 2-0 lead and gain momentum. Good serves pushed Roger 3-0 up before he experienced the first troubles behind the initial shot at 3-1.
He fended off three break points and brought the game home with a volley winner to extend the gap. Blake gave serve away at love in the next one after Federer's forehand winner and fell 5-1 behind. The Swiss closed the opener with a service winner in game seven after 26 minutes, looking sharp and determined to bring the encounter home as soon as possible.
James repelled three break chances with winners in the second set's opening game for a vital hold. After four good service games on both sides, Federer grabbed a break at 3-3 after forcing Blake's error. He forged the advantage before finding himself 40-15 down in the next one.
Roger stayed focused and fended off break chances to notch the game with an ace for 5-3. The American blasted a forehand down the line winner to reduce the deficit to 5-4. However, that was all he could do, as Roger sealed the deal with an ace down the T line in game ten for the second Cincinnati trophy in three years.