Novak Djokovic follows Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal with 12 victorious Masters seasons

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been the dominant figures at the Masters 1000 series for the past 15 years. Sharing 98 titles between them, the 'big 3' have left the other players far behind (excluding Andy Murray), leaving them without success at this level of competition. On Saturday, Novak Djokovic claimed the 35th Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati, matching Rafael Nadal's record and securing the 12th season with at least one trophy at the premium ATP level. Thus, the Serb has become the third player to achieve that after Nadal and Federer, who are in front of him with 14 and 13 seasons. With 2010 and 2017 excluded, Novak has been winning Masters 1000 titles since teenage days in 2007, standing as the most efficient player in this series in the previous decade and battling with Nadal for the place at the top. After all kinds of problems in 2017, Novak has found the rhythm again in the last three years, using the first opportunity to secure the title in this plagued season.

Competing for the first time since Dubai in February, Novak overcame five opponents and neck issues to lift the third singles titles of the season and remain unbeaten in 2020 (23-0). In the semi-final, Djokovic trailed 6-5 in the final set to Roberto Bautista Agut, scoring a late break and winning the tie break 7-0 to advance into the 51st Masters 1000 final. There, Novak defeated Milos Raonic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours, securing the second Career Golden Masters. There was only one player on the court in the opener, as Djokovic struggled to find the rhythm and his strokes, suffering two breaks and raising the level in sets two and three. Serving at 47% in the first set, Novak took only 14 out of 41 points, unable to match Raonic's numbers and having to work much harder in set number two to remain in touch. Djokovic lost eight points in five service games in the second set, challenging Raonic to match those numbers and looking much stronger in the exchanges.

Novak Djokovic is third player with Masters 1000 crown in 12 different seasons.

Milos wasted a game point at 2-3 and suffered the first break since the beginning of the encounter, losing confidence and drifting away from the finish line. Djokovic secured the set after Raonic's forehand error at 5-3, becoming the favorite in the final set. Milos held at love in the first game of the decider and clinched a break at 15 to forge a 2-0 lead, taking a big step towards the crown if he could serve well until the end. The battle was far from over, though, with the more experienced player taking charge to erase the deficit and gain momentum. Djokovic grabbed 16 of the next 20 points, earning breaks in games three and five and holding at 15 for a 4-2 advantage. Serving for the title at 5-4, Novak fended off a break chance and forced an error from Raonic to move over the top and secure the Masters 1000 trophy in the 12th different season. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32ERzka