Roger Federer has had a great 2014 thus far and after he finished runners-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last week at Toronto’s Rogers Cup, the world no. 3 claimed the men’s singles crown at Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open. The 33-year old Federer faced 32-year old David Ferrer of Spain and after some scare in the second set, came through 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to become the first player of over 30 years of age to win the tournament. For Federer, it was his career’s 80th singles title and his 16th meeting with Ferrer went 16-0 in his favor. In the WTA event at Western & Southern Open, world no. 1 Serena Williams emerged winner to claim her first ever Cincinnati title with a straight sets’ victory over Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic. It was the 32-year old Serena’s sixth attempt at Cincinnati Masters since 2006. In men’s doubles, legendary American twins Bob and Mike Bryan recorded their 99th title win as a team in their 150th final. The men’s doubles final was a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon, where the Bryans had lost to Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock in five sets. In Cincinnati, however, the brothers avenged their Wimbledon defeat by beating the Canadian-American Pair in straight sets.
Federer had a tough opponent in the Spaniard David Ferrer for his title match at Cincinnati Masters 2014. Earlier, Federer had beaten Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-3 to advance to his sixth final at Cincinnati. The Swiss legend won every point on his serve in the first set and did not allow the Canadian any foothold in the semifinal. The second set went on serve until the 8th game at which point, Federer broke Raonic after trailing 0-40 in the eighth game and held his serve to close the match. In his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray, Federer had overcome the Scot 6-3, 7-5 after trailing 1-4 in the second set. But Murray lost three of his next four service games, when Federer raised his game later. As for Ferrer, he had an easy semifinal win over Julien Benneteau of France, who he beat 6-3, 6-2.
In the final, Federer won the first set 6-3 but Ferrer came back strongly in the second to win 6-1 against the Swiss. In the decider, Federer raced to a 3-1 lead and kept holding his serves. With another break later, Federer finished the match 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in 102 minutes. Federer had skipped the tournament last year but he had won in 2012. With Sunday’s victory Federer completed his sixth triumph in Cincinnati having also won here in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010. Federer also completed his 300th match victory at Masters 100 level after he beat Vasek Pospisil in the first round and his third title victory this season after Dubai and Halle.
In women’s singles, Serena Williams entered the final after defeating Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinal. In a hard-fought match, however, Wozniacki took the opening set from Serena 6-2. But the big-serving American fought back in the next two to seal the final berth 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to play Ana Ivanovic. The Serbian girl had a tough semifinal herself against the Russian Maria Sharapova, whom she finally beat in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. In the final, Serena had a rather easy outing against Ivanovic. Making a slow start, Serena had a break-point against her in the first set but Ivanovic couldn’t convert it to her advantage. Then the world no.1 raised her game and took the first set after Ivanovic committed two double faults. It was easier for the American in the second set as her big serves found their marks. After 62 minutes, Serena notched her first Cincinnati triumph 6-4, 6-1 to boost her confidence for the US open starting in a week’s time in New York.
In the men’s doubles final, America’s Bob and Mike Bryan played dominating tennis against Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock and won their 99th title as a doubles team. It was an apt revenge for the Bryan twins, who had lost to Pospisil and Sock in five sets at Wimbledon two months ago. The brothers took the first set 6-3 and earned a break in the second to move to a 3-2 lead that proved decisive. The brothers combined well against their opponents, for whom it was the first loss this season. It was the 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy for Bryans. It was fitting that the undefeated streak of Jack and Vasek had to come to end against world’s most celebrated doubles team. The brothers had words of high praise for the Canadian-American duo saying that Jack and Vasek are boon to the men’s doubles field.
