Friday, Mar 29 2024 | Time 12:03 Hrs(IST)
image
Sports


Novak Djokovic, Federer set up title clash in Cincinnati Open

Novak Djokovic, Federer set up  title clash in Cincinnati Open

Cincinnati (Mason, Ohio), Aug 19 (UNI) 10th seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia will face second seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland in the ATP Men's singles final in the Western and Southern Open here on Sunday.
Playing at the near packed Center Court here, Novak Djokovic stormed into the Cincinnati Open final for the sixth time by overcoming big-serving 2016 tournament champion and seventh seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in semi-final match.
Novak Djokovic now owns 31 W and S Open victories, the most of any player in the tournament Open Era without a title. He’ll take aim at his first Rookwood Cup for the first time since 2015.
Djokovic will make his run at Cincinnati and ATP history against Roger Federer of Switzerland in a potential rematch of the 2015 tournament final or Belgian David Goffin.
Roger Federer defeated 11th seeded David Goffin of Belgium who retired suffering injury after losing the first set in tie-breaker 7-6 (6) and splitting the first two singles serving at 40-30 in second set.
If Novak Djokovic wins the final, he will be the first player to capture capture the ATP Golden Masters, a career collection of nine World Masters 1000 championships (Canada, Cincinnati, Indian Wells, Madrid, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Paris, Rome, and Shanghai)
He displayed his top form throughout the match and delivered perhaps his most precise shot down 2-5 at 30-40 in the second set when he snuck a bullet backhand winner that caught the left line.
Djokovic carried the final set winning two of four break points, including one that put him ahead 5-3, firing five aces and winning 90 percent of his first-service points.

Facing Goffin for the first time since suffering a semi-final loss at last year's Nitto ATP Finals, Federer restored order in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, which now stands at 7-1. Goffin stopped play after 63 minutes, with Federer serving at 1-1 40/30 in the second set.
Roger Federer extended a slew of Cincy streaks with the victory. He has now held serve in 96 consecutive service games and owns 14 straight match victotries at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Moreover, the Swiss has claimed 17 of his last 18 sets played.
Federer stormed into the championship a 7-0 record in finals. It marks the second Masters 1000 tournament in which he has reached eight title matches, along with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
WTA No 17 and unseeded Kiki Bertens of Netherlands entered her first W and S Open final with a straightforward three-sets victory ahead of 2012 tournament semifinalist and current No. 6 Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Tied at three games each in the first set, Kvitova was able deliver forehand winners that helped her secure 71 percent of her second return points after working Bertens out of position with well-placed returns.
World No 1 Simona Halep entered her second final in as many weeks after taking down Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 Cincinnati Open.
After claiming the Coupe Rogers trophy last week in Montreal, Halep will compete in another championship match - her sixth final of the year - as she faces Kiki Bertens for the Cincinnati crown.
Sabalenka came into the match with over eight hours of tennis under her belt this week, while Halep had played less than five.
REUTERS XC SDR 0721

More News
Softball-Baseball C’ship takes off in Jammu; Secy SSC terms sports best medium to eradicate drug menace

Softball-Baseball C’ship takes off in Jammu; Secy SSC terms sports best medium to eradicate drug menace

28 Mar 2024 | 8:26 PM

Jammu, Mar 28 (UNI) Declaring open the three-day Softball-Baseball Championship here, Nuzhat Gul, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on Thursday termed sports as best medium to eradicate drug menace from the society.

see more..
Stage set for electrifying showdown as RCB take on KKR

Stage set for electrifying showdown as RCB take on KKR

28 Mar 2024 | 7:07 PM

By BD Narayankar
Bengaluru, Mar 28 (UNI) The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up to take on arch-rival Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what promises to be another thrilling encounter at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday.

see more..

IIT-Madras to host FIDE-rated Rapid Chess Tournament

28 Mar 2024 | 7:01 PM

Chennai, Mar 28 (UNI) The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-Madras) will be hosting an International Chess Federation (FIDE)-rated Rapid Chess Tournament on March 30 and 31.

see more..
PV Sindhu in pre-quarters of Madrid Spain Masters tournament

PV Sindhu in pre-quarters of Madrid Spain Masters tournament

28 Mar 2024 | 1:56 PM

Madrid, Mar 28 (UNI) In the ongoing Madrid Spain Masters badminton tournament, PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion, secured a place in the pre-quarterfinals after defeating Canada's Wen Yu Zhang in the first round.

see more..

On audit party’s instructions, J&K Sports Council issues 10-point advisory to recognised sports bodies

28 Mar 2024 | 1:26 PM

Jammu, Mar 28 (UNI) Acting on the instructions of the audit party of the Principal Accountant General Audit, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has issued a ten-point advisory to the recognised sports bodies functional across the Union Territory.

see more..
image