Novak Djoković

[Barty]

[DUN I LOVE]

1/6 planu wykonana.

[Razing]

Szybkie pytanie. Czy jest z nami Marian podczas Cincy?

[Damian]

Read & Watch: Djokovic Needs Nine Match Points To Close Out Cincy Opener

Spoiler:

Serbian seeking his first Western & Southern Open title
Tenth seed Novak Djokovic was tested by home favourite Steve Johnson in his Western & Southern Open first-rounder on Monday evening. But the 30-time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titlist, after failing to convert his first eight match points in the second set, eventually advanced 6-4, 7-6(4) to start his Cincinnati campaign.

“I thought I had patches of the match where I played pretty good,” said Djokovic. “I thought that I should have closed it [out] earlier, but credit to him for fighting, fighting back, playing some good points when he needed to, [with] big serves. Overall, I'm glad that I managed to close it out in straight sets, because it was becoming quite a battle, two hours, two sets.”

Djokovic rebounded well from his third-round loss at last week's Rogers Cup to Greece's #NextGenATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas, the eventual finalist. The Serbian broke in the 10th game in the opening set and then rode that momentum to jump to a 3-0 lead in the second set against Johnson.

You May Also Like: Read & Watch: Vintage 'Stan The Man' Ousts 12th Seed Schwartzman
But the American raised his level, winning the next four games, including two breaks of serve. Johnson brought one of the break points with a down-the-line forehand that he hit from his shoestrings. He then broke in the fifth game with a run-around forehand return that Djokovic tried to retrieve but lost his racquet in the process.

Finally, the 10th-seeded Djokovic, after coming up short on five match points in the ninth game of the second set, hit a crosscourt forehand winner on his ninth match point.

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Cincinnati is the only ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event missing from Djokovic's Masters 1000 trophy case. The 30-time Masters 1000 titlist has won all other eight Masters 1000 titles and has reached the Cincinnati final five times (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015). He and Johnson were meeting for the first time.

Djokovic will next meet Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. The former No. 1 leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-0, including a straight-sets win earlier this year at the grass-court Fever-Tree Championships.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 018-monday

[Barty]

[Damian]

[grzes430]

Slow Start, Fast Finish As Novak Tops Mannarino

Spoiler:

Djokovic is a five-time finalist in Cincinnati
Novak Djokovic continued his bid to become the first man to complete the Career Golden Masters on Wednesday, beating Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 at the Western & Southern Open.

Djokovic, who needs the Cincinnati title to complete his set of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies, advanced after two hours and six minutes, breaking five times en route to victory. The former World No. 1 has reached the championship match on five occasions.

Djokovic said the dream of finally winning the tournament to complete his set of Masters 1000 titles helped, not hindered, his progress. “I think it adds more to the motivation rather than pressure," the 30-time Masters 1000 champion said. "I really want to win this tournament, and I have been trying. I'm still in the tournament this year, and hopefully I can get a shot at the title.

“But I need to definitely play better than I have in the first couple matches. I have been training a lot and trying to find the game and the level of tennis that I want to be on. I am motivated to get far in this tournament, without a doubt.”


Djokovic called for the doctor while leading at 5-2 in the second set and said after the match that he had an upset stomach. “I wasn't feeling well. I didn't have a great night and wasn't feeling that well for the first set and a half. I kind of made it through, and with the help of the doctor and God (smiling) I'm just happy that I managed to overcome the challenge.

“Credit to him playing well in the first set, but I wasn't myself. On the court I had difficulty moving around and just hitting the ball, making a lot of unforced errors. The second part of the second set and third set it was already much better. I will try to take that into next match.”

World No. 28 Mannarino was aiming to record his first Top 10 victory of the season. The Antalya finalist reached a career-high No. 22 in the ATP Rankings on 19 March.

The four-time Wimbledon champion will meet Grigor Dimitrov in the third round. The defending champion beat German Mischa Zverev 7-6(5), 7-5. Dimitrov, who trails Djokovic 1-8 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, won 64 per cent of his second-serve points against Zverev.


For the third time in four years, Kevin Anderson booked his place in the third round in Cincinnati, beating Jeremy Chardy 7-6(6), 6-2.

Anderson recorded his 33rd tour-level win of the season after one hour and 32 minutes, winning 95 per cent of first-serve points en route to victory. The South African also reached the third round in 2015 (l. to Federer) and 2016 (l. to Murray). Anderson will face No. 11 seed David Goffin for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Goffin notched his second victory over Benoit Paire in five FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters after two hours and 20 minutes, recovering from a set down to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. The Belgian withstood 17 aces from the Frenchman and saved nine of 12 break points.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ci ... -mannarino

[Damian]

Read & Watch: Djokovic Comeback Halted By Rain

Spoiler:

All but Raonic and Carreno Busta have not completed their third-round matches
Play was suspended at the Western & Southern Open at 10:14 pm Thursday due to rain, with just two third-round singles matches completed in Cincinnati. That means that all but former World No. 3 Milos Raonic and 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta, who advanced to the quarter-finals earlier in the day, will have to play two matches on Friday.

Five-time Western & Southern Open finalist Novak Djokovic earned a break in the third set against defending champion Grigor Dimitrov after play resumed following an earlier rain delay. The Serbian will return on Friday serving with a 2-6, 6-3, 2-1 lead.

Former World No. 1 Djokovic is trying to come from a set down in his second consecutive match, after also doing so against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. The Serbian is trying to complete his career ‘Golden Masters’, as Cincinnati is the only ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title he has yet to win.


The 31-year-old, who owns a 7-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead against Dimitrov, is also looking to gain momentum on the hard courts after losing in the Round of 16 at the Rogers Cup against #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Dimitrov is attempting to earn his third win against an opponent inside the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings this year. And in the first set, he looked sharp, keeping the recent Wimbledon champion out of rhythm with a great variety of angles and slices. But Djokovic buckled down after falling behind a break in the second, using his backhand down the line well while limiting his unforced errors.

View FedEx ATP Head2Head for the Rogers Cup & vote for who you think will win!
Dimitrov vs Djokovic | Anderson vs Goffin | Del Potro vs Kyrgios



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Marin Cilic, the 2016 champion, is locked in a battle against Toronto semi-finalist Karen Khachanov, leading 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-1, while the Croatian will resume play serving at 40/0. Stan Wawrinka, who beat Marton Fucsovics in a three-set battle a week ago, leads the Hungarian 2-1, with Fucsovics holding a 40/0 lead on his serve.

A number of players did not get a chance to step on the court Thursday, including seven-time champion Roger Federer, sixth seed Kevin Anderson and 15th seed Nick Kyrgios, whose opponent, Juan Martin del Potro, had to play his second-round match earlier in the day.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 8-thursday

[Damian]

Rain & Defending Champ Dimitrov? No Problem For Djokovic

Spoiler:

Cilic battles past Toronto semi-finalist Khachanov
Rain nor defending champion Grigor Dimitrov were able to stop Novak Djokovic from continuing his pursuit of a first Western & Southern Open title.

The former World No. 1 returned to the court Friday with a break lead in the third set after rain halted play Thursday evening, maintaining that advantage to defeat the Bulgarian 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic continues his push for the one ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title he has not yet won, despite reaching the final five times in Cincinnati. He now owns 29 victories at the event, passing former World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt for the most at the tournament in the Open Era without lifting the trophy.

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The Serbian has been victorious in 24 of his past 28 matches after a 6-6 start to the 2018 campaign. But for a moment on Thursday, it appeared that Djokovic would be leaving Cincinnati early, trailing Dimitrov by a set and a break, with little rhythm from the baseline. The Serbian did not let the reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion run away with the match, though, digging in and significantly cutting down his number of unforced errors, using his backhand down the line to great effect.

Dimitrov was trying to build off the momentum of a quarter-final showing at the Rogers Cup, and was also pursuing his third Top 10 victory of the season.

Cilic

Marin Cilic, who triumphed in Cincinnati two years ago, also survived a rain-delayed three-setter on Friday afternoon. The Croatian battled past Toronto semi-finalist Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 after two hours, 41 minutes over two days.

The seventh seed has now won eight consecutive matches at this event after missing last year's tournament due to an abductor injury. This will be his third quarter-final in Ohio, also reaching the last eight in 2012 before losing to Djokovic. While he could not convert on his first six break points against Khachanov, Cilic took advantage of his lone opportunity in the decider to advance to a meeting against 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.

The Spaniard was one of only two players (also Raonic) who completed their third-round match on Thursday. Cilic leads the pair's FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-0, dropping just one of their previous eight sets.

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More Stories Like This In: Cincinnati Match Report Masters 1000 Novak Djokovic 2018

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 018-friday

[DUN I LOVE]

Szybkie pytanie. Czy jest z nami Marian podczas Cincy?

Jest.

[Barty]

[Damian]

Djokovic Holds Off Raonic, Continues Career Golden Masters Pursuit

Spoiler:

Serbian is two wins away from his maiden Cincy title
Novak Djokovic overcame trouble throughout his quarter-final to remain perfect against Milos Raonic on Friday and move within a match of his sixth Western & Southern Open final.

The five-time Cincinnati finalist beat Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in his second match of the day because of rain on Thursday. Earlier, Djokovic finished off his comeback against fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov, advancing 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The third-round match resumed at 2-1 in the third set.

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“I’m very pleased with my fighting spirit and staying mentally tough to overcome deficits in both matches," Djokovic said. "Obviously the match against Dimitrov yesterday didn't start so well for me. He started tremendously well. We were not the only ones [dealing with rain interruptions], but it just makes it harder, because you're warming up, you're cooling down.

“We went home around 10:30, came back this morning again to play him, and then [you have a] couple hours of rest. And to go back on the court again against Raonic, who was serving 140-plus miles from the first game, that got me going, for sure, from the beginning.”

Djokovic improved to 9-0 against Raonic in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, although the Serbian's consecutive sets streak against Raonic was snapped at 17 when the Canadian evened the quarter-final by claiming the second set.

That moment could have easily been the end of the match in favour of Raonic. He served for the first set at 5-4, but landed only one first serve and double faulted twice, including on break point, and Djokovic won the next two games for the set.

Tennis Radio

The Canadian was more than holding his own from the baseline, troubling Djokovic's net approaches with his backhand slice. As customary, he was delivering 140 mph-bombs with his serve. Djokovic, who last beat Raonic at the 2016 Nitto ATP Finals, was giving the World No. 29 a different look, standing much farther back than usual.

And it appeared that would pay dividends when Raonic broke for a 2-1 lead in the decider. But after saving three break points — with an overhead and two massive serves — in the next game, Djokovic broke back. And with a 4-3 lead, the Serbian delivered a deep backhand return off a second serve, which Raonic returned into the net with an inside-in forehand. Djokovic then overcame a 0/30 deficit to close out the match.

Djokovic has won the other eight ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles. With two more wins, he can become the first player to win the career 'Golden Masters'.

The 31-year-old will next meet Marin Cilic, who beat Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(7), 6-4 to win his ninth consecutive match in Cincinnati. Cilic is playing at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for the first time since winning the event in 2016 for his first Masters 1000 title. Djokovic, the 69-time tour-level titlist, leads Cilic 14-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

Did You Know?
Entering the match, Raonic had lost just eight first-serve points combined in three matches. On Friday evening, Djokovic won 15 first-return points against the big-serving Canadian.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... -friday-qf

[Damian]

[Damian]

[DUN I LOVE]

Kilka faktów:
* 3. finał w tym roku (1-1);
* 45. finał M-1000 (30-14);
* 6. finał w Cincy (0-5);

Novak zagrał w finale ATP500 (QC), jutro zagra w finale M-1000 (Cincy), a miesiąc temu wygrał turniej WS (Wimbledon).

[lake]

30-15 będzie ładnie wyglądać, ale ceną za to będzie No14 za 3 tygodnie.

[Damian]

[Barty]

Djokovic Reaches Sixth Cincy Final, One Win From History

Spoiler:

Serbian to face Roger Federer or David Goffin in Cincinnati final
Novak Djokovic is back in the Western & Southern Open final. It's been a familiar sight for tennis fans in Cincinnati over the years.

But following a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Marin Cilic on Saturday, the surging Serbian is not satisfied in reaching his sixth title match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Once again, he finds himself on the precipice of a historic first crown in Cincy.

After toppling the towering Croatian, champion in 2016, Djokovic will look to finally secure the Career Golden Masters, facing the winner of Saturday's nightcap between Roger Federer and David Goffin. The 30-time Masters 1000 titlist is on the doorstep of becoming the first singles player to secure the complete set of nine titles.

"I mean, it's a final for me and the sixth time that I'll try to win the title," said Djokovic. "Obviously this time I'm hoping that I can get my hands on the trophy. I will give my best. History is also on the line and I'm aware of that and that motivates me even more."


One day after dodging raindrops to earn a pair of wins, Djokovic needed two hour and 32 minutes to dismiss Cilic on a breezy afternoon at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. He entered with a 14-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head record in their rivalry, but was eager to overturn a two-match losing skid against the 29-year-old. Cilic won their two most recent encounters, in Paris in 2016 and in the Queen's Club final earlier this year.

Cilic was looking to confirm his recent stranglehold with a third straight win, but Djokovic refused to oblige as proceedings got underway. A tight service game saw the Croatian concede a quick break for 2-1 and his Serbian opponent was clutch in the big moments throughout the opener.

But Cilic would ensure a plot twist was in store, immediately assaulting the Djokovic serve to open the second set. A bevy of baseline blasts saw him grab a break in the second game, as he fired an inside-out forehand winner, and he would launch an ace to force a decider.

A suddenly rattled Djokovic lost his rhythm, but it would not take long for order to be restored. The former World No. 1 sealed Cilic's fate with a decisive break for 5-3 with a looping forehand winner that kissed the tramline, and he would cross the finish line on his second match point after just over two and a half hours. He fired eight aces and staved off nine of 12 break chances to prevail.


"Yesterday at 4-3 in the third, today at 4-3 in the third, both times I made crucial breaks," added Djokovic. "But, I wasn't just closing my eyes and going for the shots. I was trying to tactically play smart and strategically play the certain shots that will put me in a better position than my opponent.

"When you play guys like Cilic and Raonic, you have to be lucky to anticipate their serve, try to block it, try to put it in play, and again, develop a point in a way which will allow you to win it.

"Today I made a passing shot down the line, which was quite awesome, and I was lucky to hit the line. That's what happens. I mean, that one point, one shot, decided a winner of the match today. That's how close it was. It was similar to yesterday's match, so not much has really separated us."


While Djokovic owns the second-most trophies at the Masters 1000 level, behind only Rafael Nadal's 33, he will bid to overturn an inauspicious 0-5 record in Cincinnati finals. Runner-up to Andy Murray in 2008 and 2011, as well as to Roger Federer in 2009, 2012 and 2015, he is one of just three players in the Open Era to lose five finals at a single tournament without winning. Murray is also 0-5 at the Australian Open, while Nadal owns the same mark in Miami Open presented by Itau championships.

One month removed from notching his first title of the year at Wimbledon, Djokovic enters his first Masters 1000 final since Rome 2017 (l. to Zverev). On a 14-1 run since the start of that impressive fortnight at the All England Club, he has claimed three straight deciding-set wins this week.

Cilic, meanwhile, sees his Cincinnati win streak come to a halt at nine straight. Despite the loss, he will take great confidence to the US Open after appearing in his fifth Masters 1000 semi-final and second at the hard-court tournament.

"It was a big battle, definitely tough conditions: very hot, very humid, very different than all the matches that I have played here this week," said Cilic. "It wasn't easy to adjust in that from the beginning of the match. But just an amazing performance by him. In those critical points he lifted his level in those moments, and that earned him the victory.

"I feel with my tennis that it's on a good level. These two weeks have helped me to position myself well to prepare really well. I had tough matches here this week and last week."

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ci ... ovic-cilic

[Barty]

[Lleyton]

Djokovic Completes Career Golden Masters

Spoiler:

Novak Djokovic goes where no other player has gone since the creation of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000s in 1990

Novak Djokovic has become the first player in the 28-year history of ATP World Tour Masters 1000s to win all nine elite tournaments and complete the career Golden Masters by winning his first title, in his sixth final, at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Sunday.

They are some of the sport's hardest events to win, forcing players to test their skills in varying weather conditions against the very best in the ATP Rankings right from the first round, from the heat and humidity of the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open presented by Itau in March through to the controlled indoor conditions of the Rolex Paris Masters in November. “A complete arsenal and the absence of a weakness is integral to completing the [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000 sweep,” said Justin Gimelstob. In the 258 tournaments since the elite level of ATP World Tour tournaments were created for the start of the 1990 season, no player has managed to win at all nine Masters 1000 tournaments to complete a career Golden Masters. Until now.

Since Djokovic broke Rafael Nadal’s 46-match winning streak at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, for his first trophy in Monaco in April 2013, the Serbian star had three times headed to Mason, Ohio for the Western & Southern Open, on the cusp of sporting history. “It’s always been at the back of my mind, adding extra pressure, but also motivation, as it’s what you work for,” admitted Djokovic, who has a 323-72 match wins record and 31 titles at Masters 1000 tournaments.

Five years ago, upon Djokovic’s first shot at the career Golden Masters in Cincinnati, he lost to John Isner 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5 in the quarter-finals. The following year, he fell to an inspired Tommy Robredo 7-6(6), 7-5 in the 2014 third round and Roger Federer beat Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-3 in the 2015 final, which marked his fifth runner-up finish (also 2008-09, 2011-12). Injuries to his left wrist and right elbow, respectively, saw him miss the 2016 and 2017 editions, but this season Djokovic hit North American soil in form on the back of lifting his fourth trophy at The Championships, Wimbledon.

Adverse weather conditions in Cincinnati, compressed the order of play this week, forcing Djokovic to win four matches in three days for arguably the most significant Masters 1000 crown of his illustrious career. By comparison, 27-time Masters 1000 titlist Federer has Monte-Carlo and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia missing from his resume of the current nine Masters 1000 tournaments. Fourteen-time winner Andy Murray has yet to win in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, while record-holding 33-time champion Nadal has not sunk his teeth into the Miami, Rolex Shanghai Masters and Paris trophies. Andre Agassi, whose career spanned three decades, won seven of the then nine Masters 1000 tournaments prior to his retirement in September 2006.

During the height of his consistency, between November 2014 and March 2016, the 31-year-old Djokovic compiled a 56-2 record at Masters 1000 tournaments, winning nine trophies from 11 straight finals. Today, on his 12th attempt for the Cincinnati trophy, a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders in becoming the first player to capture all nine of the ATP World Tour's elite events.

DJOKOVIC'S RECORD AT ATP WORLD TOUR MASTERS 1000 TOURNAMENTS
Masters 1000 Tournament Titles Attempts To Win 1st Title Win-Loss Record
BNP Paribas Open 5 3 49-8
Miami Open presented by Itau 6 2 42-6
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2 9 32-10
Mutua Madrid Open 2 5 24-8
Internazionali BNL d'Italia 4 2 46-8
Rogers Cup 4 1 37-7
Western & Southern Open 1 12 32-11
Rolex Shanghai Masters 3 6 33-7
Rolex Paris Masters 4 5 28-7

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