Rolex Shangai Masters: ATP Masters 1000 Rolex Shangai Masters: ATP Masters 1000
days hours minutes seconds
Shop for Official Event Merchandise Now on Sale!

Djokovic Claims Cincy Title for Second Time

Djokovic Claims Cincy Title for Second Time
August 30, 2020
To see tennis back on the world stage after close to six months of suspension is brilliant and with that Novak Djokovic claimed his second Cincinnati Masters title and the first since 2018.  The world No.1 went two hours and three sets against Milos Raonic in a solid match and even had to save a break point while serving for the title. It was a slow start for Djokovic who came back from a set down to defeat the Canadian 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and in doing so scored his eleventh win from as many matches against Raonic. He is the first top seed to win this title since Roger Federer in 2012 and was in the final for the seventh time. For Djokovic it is his 35th ATP Masters 1000 title which ties him with Rafa Nadal, and it was his 80th career title. His tally of career titles puts him behind only Jimmy Connors 109, Roger Federer 103, Ivan Lendl 94 and Rafa Nadal 85. Incredibly, he has now won 23 matches from 23 matches in 2020. The guy's on-court supremacy is pretty amazing. He is the first and only player to have won each of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments two or more times. This was a final that required Djokovic to dig deep. Not so much because he had lost the first set so dramatically, but because during and after the semi-final against Roberto Bautista Agut the day before, which was three hours, he was quite unwell but probably even more crucially he has been distracted with off-court matters over the previous couple of days. "There's been a lot of off-court things that I kind of had to be involved in directly or indirectly. It was not easy, definitely, especially in the last three, four days. Has been challenging mentally and emotionally for me to stay sane and be able to compete on the highest level and win this title," Djokovic said.  "Was a bit slow at the beginning, but I thought I did well, considering the form that Milos is in. He has beaten some great players during this week. He's serving rockets on the court, and it's really hard to return. You know, you need all the freshness mentally and all the focus that you can possibly have. So, I did struggle with that, I must say.  "It was not the most ideal situation for me to kind of be competing in the last four of a big tournament and have to deal with a lot of stuff off the court, but those were the circumstances. I accepted them. I was fortunate to get the title, obviously, but it's a great lesson learned." Raonic explained Novak did what Novak does so well when it came to the second set, "he puts in a few more balls (and) he makes things a little more difficult". The Canadian said he was initially stepping up, but he had some lapses and Djokovic took advantage of the situation. Still, it was a big week for Raonic. "I know I have put in a lot of work in the last five, six months," he said. "I'm happy tat I'm able to see the benefits of that quickly. I knew I could pay well but I didn't know when things were going to come together for me. I was ready to be patient with it, but I'm glad that first go at it has been pretty positive for me."

The doubles title was claimed by first time pairing, Australian Alex de Minaur, in his first doubles final, teamed with Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta to upset Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski 6-2, 7-5.
Tennis TV

Purchase Tickets
Purchase Tickets
Map & Directions
Map & Directions
Title Sponsor
Rolex
Diamond Sponsor JP Morgan
Patron Sponsor
LONGIBright Dairy
Prestige Sponsors
Heineken Mercedes China Merchants Bank Lavazza
EA7 Marriott Bonvoy Swellfun Red Bull | TCP
Emirates American Express Sportsbeams Sealy
Nobilia Ganten
 
Official Sponsors
Moet & Chandon SIGG Colmo Shake Shack Wilson
Pizza Hut Yonex Parkway China Telecom Life Fitness
Novalis Innovative Flooring