Roger Federer tops Novak Djokovic for seventh Cincinnati crown

• Tennis News
• Roger Federer

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic battled in the Cincinnati final on August 23, 2015. Roger scored a 7-6, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 31 minutes, securing his seventh and last Ohio crown. Novak gave his best in the opening set before losing ground, experiencing another defeat in the Cincinnati finals and still seeking the elusive trophy.

Federer went all the way a couple of weeks after turning 34, becoming the second-oldest Cincinnati champion after Andre Agassi in 2004. The age was hardly an obstacle for the Swiss. He delivered a mind-blowing performance to defeat five rivals without dropping a service game, including back-to-back wins over return giants Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic!

Federer faced only three break points in a single game against Feliciano Lopez, offering no chances to the remaining opponents and mounting pressure on their side. The rivals pushed his serve to only two deuces during the entire week after the incredible numbers behind the initial shot.

Also, an introduced SABR kept Roger's opponents under constant tension. Novak stood no chance in the title match despite a solid effort in the opening set, experiencing the first defeat against Roger after three straight victories.

The Serb created no break chances for the first time since Doha that January when he faced Karlovic. Djokovic fended off seven out of eight break points offered to Roger, staying in touch before getting broken once in the second set.

Federer dropped just 11 points in ten service games, hitting 32 winners with 23 unforced errors and keeping Novak on a 19-22 ratio, insufficient for at least a set. The Serb had the advantage in the more extended rallies with nine shots or more.

However, there were only 17 of those, as Roger dominated the quickest points up to four strokes and mid-range rallies. Djokovic had to work hard right from the start, which is never a good sign, repelling three break chances in game three and another at 2-2 when Roger netted a forehand.

Roger Federer stood strong against Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati 2015.

They reached 4-4 without breaks, and Federer had a clear advantage after giving away three points behind the initial shot. Roger kept the pressure on Novak, who had to put in extra effort to stay on the positive side!

Both players served well in the last four games to arrange a tie break. Federer opened it with a mini-break after Djokovic's forced error before losing a point on serve after a loose forehand. A fantastic backhand down the line winner and a successful SABR pushed Roger 4-1 up, earning five set points after two winners on serve.

Djokovic lost another point on serve at 1-6 to hand the set to Federer, who was even more eager to attack in the rest of the encounter. His path toward the title became much more relaxed when Novak hit a double fault in the second set's second game, finding himself 3-0 up after landing four winners in game three.

Djokovic held at love in game four to end his downfall but still had nothing to work with on the return, allowing Roger to close the fifth game with two winners for a 4-1 advantage. Novak defended three break points in the next one and made one last push on the return in game seven, forcing only the second deuce in Roger's games during the tournament!

He missed an easy backhand that could have given him a break chance, and Federer brought the game home with a volley winner, moving 5-2 ahead and forcing Novak to serve to stay in the tournament. Djokovic reduced the deficit to 3-5, which was all from him for that year in Cincinnati.

Federer blasted three service winners in the ninth game to cross the finish line and complete a perfect week that brought him the seventh Cincinnati crown.