Kyrgios fined $113,000 for Cincinnati meltdown, faces suspension

CINCINNATI - Controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios was Thursday fined $113,000 after his explosive Cincinnati Masters meltdown which saw him smash two racquets, launch an abusive tirade at the chair umpire before appearing to spit at the official.

The ATP said the massive sanction included individual fines for ball abuse, leaving the court without permission, an audible obscenity and unsportsmanlike conduct during his second round loss to Russia's Karen Khachanov.

Kyrgios, 24, was warned that he could also face another suspension from the sport once a full investigation has taken place.

After the world number 27 lost 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Khachanov on Wednesday night, he called umpire Fergus Murphy a "fuckin' tool", refused to shake his hand while spitting in the direction of the chair.

He had earlier been handed a time violation, docked a point and was warned again after leaving the court without permission at the end of the second set after which he was seen to destroy two racquets in the corridor.

Kyrgios screamed at Murphy that he was the "worst umpire, hands down".

The various Kyrgios infractions included four fines of $20,000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct plus another $20,000 for verbal abuse.

"In addition to the on-site fines, the ATP is looking further into what happened during and immediately after the match to see if additional action is warranted," said an ATP statement.

"That could result in an additional fine and/or suspension."

Kyrgios also had a run-in with Murphy at Queen's Club in June after he accused a line judge of "match-rigging" and was given a code violation by the umpire.

At the Italian Open in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros, he was disqualified and fined for throwing a chair on to court.

He has also been at loggerheads with the world's top two players, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this year.

He accused Djokovic of trying too hard to be liked and blasted the Serb's post-match "cup of love" celebrations as "cringeworthy".

DJOKOVIC, NADAL CLASHES

After beating Nadal in Acapulco earlier this year, the Spaniard said the Australian "lacked respect".

The pair met in a bad-tempered Wimbledon second round match in which Kyrgios admitted deliberately spearing a forehand directly at Nadal.

"Why would I apologise? I mean, the dude has got how many slams, how much money in the bank account?" said Kyrgios after his four-set defeat.

"I think he can take a ball to the chest, bro. I'm not going to apologize to him at all."

For good measure, Kyrgios picked up a code violation for unsportsmanlike behaviour and described the umpire as a "disgrace", claiming his handling of the Centre Court blockbuster as "pathetic" for failing to warn the Spaniard over what he claimed was his pedestrian pace of play.

In 2015, in one of his more notorious outbursts, Kyrgios was fined for making a sexually disparaging remark in Canada about the girlfriend of three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

The following year, he was banned for eight weeks after being accused of not trying at the Shanghai Masters.

German legend Boris Becker said he was saddened by Kyrgios's behaviour.

"Absolutely agree that spitting/foul language/tanking should be punished hard but we have dilemma since we want strong personalities lead the sport(Roger/Rafa/Nole)," the six-time Grand Slam title winner tweeted.

"NK has the game/charisma/guts but not yet the clarity of thought/maybe never ....it's a shame."

str-dj

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Federer, Djokovic advance as Serena pulls out in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI -- Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic overwhelmed opponents at the WTA-ATP Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday, where Serena Williams withdrew because of back trouble.

Williams had hoped to rebound from the back spasms that forced her out of the WTA final in Toronto on Sunday, where she lasted only four games before retiring.

But the 23-time Grand Slam champion said her back was "still not right" casting a further shadow on her chances at the US Open starting in Flushing Meadows on August 26.

For Djokovic and Federer, back in action for the first time since the Serb's victory over the Swiss in the Wimbledon final, it was a smooth start to their US Open build-up.

Federer, seeded third, remained unruffled by a one-hour rain interruption at 2-2 in the second set, eventually defeating Argentina's Juan Ignacio Londero 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round at the event he has won seven times.

"I'm very happy, even if it was a bit tricky with the rain delay," Federer said. "I'm happy to be back on court.

"This is the start of a long, long hardcourt swing. It's good to begin with a win.

"I didn't know that much about my opponent -- he's new to the tour -- but at the end you have to concentrate on your own game."

Defending champion Djokovic double faulted three times as he dropped serve in the opening game against Sam Querrey but quickly put things right and pulled away for a 7-5, 6-1 victory over the American.

"I ended the match well even if the start was nervy," said Djokovic, who would break Querrey twice to take the first set then roll to victory.

"Sam was feeling comfortable on the court at the start and dictating. It was tough facing his big serve," Djokovic said, adding that he was "hoping for a better performance in the next round."

Williams, meanwhile, was left just trying to get healthy after pulling out of her scheduled first-round match against qualifier Zarina Diyas.

"I came to Mason (Ohio) on Sunday and have tried everything to be ready to play tonight, and was still hopeful after my practice this morning," Williams said in a statement released by tournament officials.

"But unfortunately my back is still not right."

It's another injury blow for the 37-year-old American, who was hampered by knee trouble earlier this season and remains in search of her first title since the 2017 Australian Open.

In early action, Stan Wawrinka won a first-round battle as he eliminated 2017 Cincinnati champion Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

Under leaden skies after an overnight thunderstorm, Dimitrov broke in the 12th game of the first set to take the lead. The 33-year-old Swiss fought back with the only break in the second set.

Wawrinka then raced into a 5-1 lead in the final set but wasted two match points in the eighth game and was broken twice while serving for victory.

Wawrinka had to hold off his Bulgarian opponent in the final-set tiebreaker before squeezing through in more than two and a half hours with his 10th ace.

- Venus topples Bertens -

Venus Williams kept the family flag flying, the 39-year-old American putting her decades of experience to good use in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over defending champion Kiki Bertens.

"Before the match I felt quite good. Stepping on court, I'd say first few games was pretty bad," Bertens said. "I didn't start the match in a loose way. I knew that I had to defend the title."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Djokovic downs Federer to win long-sought Cincinnati crown

CINCINNATI - Novak Djokovic ended a career-long jinx as he completed a matched set of Masters 1000 titles Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer in the Cincinnati final.

The former world number one became the first man to win all 9 of the ATP's elite Masters 1000 events since the ATP was formed in 1990.

Federer, a 7-time champion in Cincinnati, lost a final in the hardcourt US Open tuneup for the first time.

In addition, his streak of 100 straight unbroken service games in Cincy was ended by Djokovic in the seventh game of the first set.

The 37-year-old Swiss had been aiming for a 99th career trophy, but was unable to get over the line due in part to four double-faults at the most inopportune of times.

"Thanks for letting me win here once," Djokovic joked to Federer at the trophy presentation. "I didn't play my best tennis today, but I managed.

"It's been a roller-coaster week," he added after players dealt for days with lengthy rain interruptions.

Djokovic claimed the opening set in 37 minutes and came back from an early break in the second to overhaul his longtime rival as they played for the 46th time.

The Serb now leads Federer 24-22 and has won their last 3 encounters.

The pair had not played since the 2016 Australian Open semi-finals more than two and a half years ago.

Wimbledon champion Djokovic claimed his Masters record on his first match point and now heads to the US Open as a title favorite after several seasons of dismal form and an elbow injury which required surgical intervention.

"Congratulations to Novak," Federer said, "not just for today for his entire career.

"The rain made things tough this week, so it's great to see the sun today.

"This is one of my favorite events and I hope to be back next year."

Federer started the match with three aces in the opening game, then added a pair of love games for a 3-2 lead.

But it began to unravel as the Swiss double-faulted to yield a break point, dropping serve as Djokovic moved ahead 4-3.

Djokovic took advantage for a 5-3 lead and closed out the set after 37 minutes.

Federer broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set but gave the break back immediately as he double faulted to give Djokovic a break point which the Serb promptly converted.

Djokovic broke again to lead 4-3, and after Federer held to close the gap to 4-5 Djokovic ended the afternoon in the next game on his first match point.

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Tennis: Federer to meet Djokovic in Cincinnati final

Novak Djokovic overcame a battling Marin Cilic, 6-4 3-6 6-3, to reach his sixth Cincinnati Masters final on Saturday, while Roger Federer enjoyed a less-taxing route to the title match after his semi-final opponent David Goffin retired with a shoulder injury.

Federer had taken the first set, 7-6(3), and it was 1-1 in the second when Goffin called it a night.

While Djokovic, who has lost all five of his previous Cincinnati finals, was not at his best in a match that stretched for two hours and 32 minutes, the Serb came through on the big points.

"It's been a rollercoaster week with matches, interruptions, and rain delays and everything," Djokovic said.

"I managed to win the last three matches in the third set. Very few points decided a winner and I just managed to pull through."

After dropping the second set, Djokovic broke to go 3-1 up in the decider before complaining to the chair umpire about music that was audible from outside centre court.

It seemed to break Djokovic's concentration as he immediately went down 0-40 on serve before digging his way back to deuce, only to lose the game with a weak second serve into the net.

However, Djokovic broke back in the eighth game before serving out clinically to secure victory.

"I didn't like that music in the first few games of the third set," he said, adding that he planned to watch the Federer-Goffin semi-final on television.

"Of course, I'll watch, from my bed or bath," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Djokovic battles through to 6th Cincinnati final

Novak Djokovic qualified for his sixth Cincinnati Masters final when he edged out Marin Cilic, 6-4 3-6 6-3, in an afternoon semi-final on Saturday.

Serbian Djokovic continued his dominance of Croatian Cilic, winning the 15th consecutive match between the pair, though it was not pretty at times in a contest that stretched for two hours 32 minutes.

The result sets up the prospect of a mouth-watering final between Djokovic and Roger Federer, one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport.

But first Swiss Federer must get past David Goffin in the evening semi-final.

Asked about the rivalry, Djokovic played a straight bat: "I understand you want to ask me that question but out of respect to Goffin I don't want to answer it," he said in an on-court interview.

Djokovic, who has lost all five of his Cincinnati finals, was not at his best against Cilic, but came through on the big points.

"It's been a rollercoaster week with matches, interruptions, and rain delays and everything," Djokovic said.

"I managed to win the last three matches in the third set. Very few points decided a winner and I just managed to pull through."

After dropping the second set to Cilic, Djokovic broke to go 3-1 up in the decider, before immediately complaining to the chair umpire about music that was audible from outside centre court.

It seemed to break Djokovic's concentration, because he immediately went down 0-40 on serve before digging his way back to deuce, only to lose the game with a weak second serve into the net.

But Djokovic broke back in the eighth game before serving out clinically to secure victory.

"I didn't like that music in the first few games of the third set," he said, before adding that he would watch the Federer-Goffin semi-final on TV.

"Of course, I'll watch, from my bed or bath," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Djokovic to face Cilic as Cincinnati title dream draws close

Former world number one Novak Djokovic won his second match of the day on Friday to set up a semi-final clash at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters with Marin Cilic.

Djokovic, a five-time finalist here who has never broken through, is aiming to lift the trophy at the only one of the Masters 1000 series events that he has never won.

The Serb tenth seed followed up a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 third-round defeat of holder Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day of a rainy week by beating Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

It was the ninth win without a loss for Djokovic in the series with the Canadian.

"I've played five finals here, so that's pretty OK," Djokovic said. "But I do wish to win the title, without a doubt."

"I'm here to enjoy a sport that I love, I've got plenty of motivation... I'm in a good position, so I'll take it step by step," he said. 

Djokovic had to come from behind in the first and third sets, and helped seal the victory with a break for 5-3 in the third.

"Milos is one of the best servers in the game," Djokovic said. "Just a few points decided the winner."

"It's tough to play against someone serving so big. I was fortunate to read his serve on several occasions. I must be very pleased with fighting spirit and staying mentally tough to overcome deficits in both matches."

Cilic put out Spanish 13th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.

"I haven't played any matches on the center court. I feel and I heard that it's completely different. It's much faster," Cilic said.

"Definitely Novak is playing really well. His level was definitely high and he's in definitely really good form."

"We played tough match in Queen's, but that's grass and definitely different. So I have to get ready and give it a full shot," he said. 

Women's top seed Simona Halep recovered from 1-4 down in the opening set, reversing her losing momentum to defeat Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-1.

It was the second fightback of the day for Halep, who came from a break down in each set to overhaul Australian 16th seed Ashleigh Barty 7-5, 6-4 several hours earlier in the third round.

Double Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova reached the final four over Belgian Elise Mertens 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.

She will face Kiki Bertens after the Dutch defeated Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3.

"I didn't really serve well, but luckily I did have good second serve, which was very important for me to put it back to the court and play some rallies," Kvitova said.

"I really need to play more aggressive. I think I was born just to play aggressive. Just boom, boom, boom. But I've found out that I need to have the game B in the end of the day," she said. 

"And that's how I was -- in some points I didn't really risk that much and just put it to the court. I just played and waited for the important points to go for the winner."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nadal delighted at return to No. 1, sorry Federer out

CINCINNATI -- Rafael Nadal was thrilled Monday to learn he would return to world number one for the first time in three years but sorry it came because Roger Federer withdrew from this week's ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament.

Third-ranked Federer said he injured his back in Montreal, where he lost in Sunday's final to Germany's Alexander Zverev in a key hardcourt tuneup for the US Open.

Federer, this year's Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, was the only player who could have denied second-ranked French Open champion Nadal the top spot in next Monday's rankings.

"For me to be in that position is something very special," Nadal said. "I have the passion and love for the game. That's why I'm able to be back in that position again."

It's the first time Nadal has been number one since July of 2014.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who won his 15th Grand Slam title this year at Roland Garros, will overtake Britain's top-ranked Andy Murray, who withdrew from Montreal and Cincinnati with a hip injury.

Nadal, who has spent 141 total weeks in the top spot, has struggled with knee injuries since first becoming world number one in August 2008 after a Cincinnati semi-final run. He admitted doubting he could ever regain the top spot after so many years.

"If you don't have doubts, it's because you are very arrogant and I'm not very arrogant," Nadal said. "There's a young generation up and coming. It's very tough to come back and be number one."

Nadal knows that while he will claim the upper hand no matter how he fares this week, the year's final Grand Slam event starting in New York on August 28 will have a major role to play in the fight with Federer for number one.

"Roger and I are having great seasons," Nadal said. "One of us will have the chance to have that position for more weeks. I'm going to try and do my best this week and see what happens."

Federer, a seven-time champion on the Cincinnati hardcourts, apologized but said he needed to rest with the US Open so near.

"I am very sorry to pull out of the Western and Southern Open as I always enjoy playing," Federer said. "Cincinnati has some of the best fans in the world and I am sorry I will miss them.

"Unfortunately, I tweaked my back in Montreal and I need to rest this week."

Federer was replaced in the draw by Italian 85th-ranked lucky loser Thomas Fabbiano, who will enjoy a first-round bye.

Nadal said he was sorry to see Federer join the list of players absent this week, which includes Murray, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Japan's Kei Nishikori and Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

"It's bad news for Roger he's not playing," Nadal said. "I'm sorry for all of them. I hope they have good recovery. We need to see them back for the sport."

Nadal has been forced to alter training and event schedules more as he has gotten older.

"Of course we're not 20 years old any more. We're not playing all the weeks. That's part of the sport. I skip many more events than the rest of my competitors."

- Zverev 'unbelievable' -

Nadal, ousted in the third round last week at Montreal, praised Zverev, who won his fifth ATP title at Montreal on Sunday and swapped spots with Austrian Dominic Thiem to reach a career-high seventh in this week's rankings.

"You are talking about an unbelievable player. And Dominic is right there too," Nadal said, declining to offer either advice.

"Better not. I cannot give many advices. Everybody has to learn from their own mistakes. You need to do your own way and experience it for yourself."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Federer cruises as fellow top seeds struggle

Defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Open with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of South African Kevin Anderson on Thursday on an otherwise tough day for the top seeds that saw Rafa Nadal eliminated.

Swiss second seed Federer needed just 55 minutes to register his easy win but top seed Novak Djokovic, third seed Andy Murray and fifth seed Stan Wawrinka were all taken the distance in their matches at the U.S. Open warm-up event in Cincinnati.

Playing in his first tournament since losing the Wimbledon final to Djokovic last month, Federer looks fresh and rested and advanced to a last eight encounter against Spain's Feliciano Lopez, who upset 2013 Cincinnati champion Nadal 5-7 6-4 7-6(3).

"I think the first break always gives you a bit of a boost and right then I felt conditions weren't that fast and I could probably get some more balls back than maybe a day session," Federer told reporters of his win over the big-serving Anderson.

"Then it was just important to keep it up with my serving. I did that very well tonight, so I am really pleased it was a rock solid performance.

"It's only quarter-finals, I know it's a good result so far and I'm playing great tennis but hopefully I can keep it up tomorrow."

Djokovic looked in danger when he dropped the opening three games of the final set against 13th-seeded Belgian David Goffin, but roared back for a 6-2 2-6 6-3 win to set up a French Open final rematch against Stan Wawrinka.

The Swiss claimed his second grand slam title with a four-set victory over Djokovic in Paris and beat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 7-6(5) to book a showdown against the top seed.

PARIS REMATCH

The Serbian world number one ran into trouble when his 24-year-old opponent broke in the first game of the second set, which resulted in a frustrated Djokovic destroying his racket with three smashes against the hard court.

Goffin went on to win eight of the next 10 games to put himself in position for a massive upset but Djokovic found his groove in time to prevail.

"Credit to him for playing some solid, consistent tennis, always making me play an extra shot," Djokovic said. "Luckily for me, I managed to bounce back, dig myself out of this hole I was in."

Djokovic and Wawrinka will meet for the 22nd time on Friday, but it will be their first clash since the Swiss triumphed at Roland Garros in June.

Wawrinka was also forced to dig deep in his third round clash where big-serving Karlovic fired 35 aces to his opponent's eight, but the Croatian's biggest weapon faltered when he needed it most as he double faulted while serving to save match point.

"It's going to be the first time we've met (since) the French Open final," Djokovic said about his next opponent. "Both of us, we are still not playing our best, but hopefully we can rise to the occasion and have a good match."

Murray, who won the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Sunday, looked a little jaded after a tough two weeks but the Briton somehow recovered to beat Grigor Dimitrov 4-6 7-6(3) 7-5 in a little under three hours after twice looking to be headed for defeat.

Trailing 5-2 in the deciding set after also being 4-1 down in the second, Murray, who rose to number two in the world rankings on Monday, dug deep into his resources to rally for a victory that sets up a quarter-final against Richard Gasquet.

Sixth seed Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic breezed by unseeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-0 6-1. He will meet Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarter-finals after the Ukrainian qualifier dispatched Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3 3-6 6-4.

The U.S. Open starts on Aug. 31. (Writing by Tim Wharnsby and Ben Everill; Editing by John O'Brien)

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Djokovic makes return in Montreal event

A month after winning Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic will pick up a racquet once again as the world number one plays as top seed in the Montreal Masters, which begins Monday.

The Serb, who won the first of his three Canadian titles in 2007 in Montreal, also added another in 2011 and a 2012 honour in Toronto to his list of North American success stories.

Since beating Roger Federer -- who will not compete next week but will save his energies for the Cincinnati Masters and US Open to follow -- Djokovic has seemingly done everything possible to keep his distance from tennis.

He missed the Davis Cup quarter-finals last month to rest and was seen on holiday with the family and on the golf course in and around his base of Monte Carlo.

The 28-year-old had said following Wimbledon that he would be decompressing after a tough first half of the ATP Tour season which yielded four Masters 1000 titles and a third Wimbledon.

"There is no reason not to be satisfied with what I have achieved. In contrary, I'm thrilled and very proud with all the success that I had so far in the career, everything I reached," Djokovic said after his All England Club success.

"If you would ask me as a 14-year-old back in Serbia trying to find my way, that this is how I'm going to end up at 28, of course I would sign the deal and take it right away."

- Murray to become a dad -

The Serb and the remainder of the leading seeds benefit from first-round byes in the Quebec City whose tennis stadium was carved from what was originally a baseball pitch.

With world number two Federer missing, Andy Murray takes the second seeding, with the Scot trying to put aside an embarrassing opening-match loss in the Washington Open.

He won back-to-back Canadian trophies in 2009 and 2010 but has not been past the quarter-finals since.

Murray is about to join fellow tennis elites Federer and Djokovic as a new father, with British tabloids reporting wife Kim Sears is due to give birth in February.

Stan Wawrinka, the French Open champion, takes the third seeding, with the Swiss now healed from a shoulder injury which bothered him at Wimbledon and forced him from an appearance on home clay in Gstaad.

Japan's Kei Nishikori, seeded fourth, is in a similar situation after weeks of leg muscle problems which seem to be improving.

Newly married Czech Tomas Berdych is seeded fifth, ahead of US Open winner Marin Cilic.

Rafael Nadal will be on seventh as the Spaniard takes his first tentative steps onto the hard courts which have been so damaging to his body. The Spaniard built up a small store of confidence by winning the Hamburg clay title this month, but that will likely count for little on the gruelling cement.

Canadian Milos Raonic, also returning from injury after foot surgery in May, is seeded eighth and will carry local weight after losing the 2013 final to Nadal and going out to Spain's Feliciano Lopez last year in the quarters.

French players take four seeding spots, with Gilles Simon on ninth, 2014 holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on tenth and Richard Gasquet seeded 11th. Gael Monfils is seeded 15th.

Spain's David Ferrer withdrew due to a long-running elbow injury which has kept him off court since the week prior to Wimbledon.

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Federer warms up for US Open with 80th ATP title

CINCINNATI - Roger Federer won his 80th career title and sixth at the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday, beating David Ferrer 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to stamp himself a US Open favorite.

The Swiss now goes into the final Grand Slam of the season in eight days as a legitimate threat after reaching the final last week in Toronto and claiming his 16th win without a loss against Spain's Ferrer over an 11-year span.

The world number three is unbeaten in six finals in Cincinnati, also winning the tournament in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Federer added a third title of 2014 to those he won in Dubai and Halle. He ran his career title total to 80 from 121 finals.

He increased his match-win lead this season on the ATP to 49 victories, with Rafael Nadal -- his US Open bid in doubt because of injury -- trailing second on 44.

Federer, 33, won his 22nd Masters 1000 trophy, second to Nadal's 27 in the elite category.

Federer, who has played Cincinnati for a decade and a half, was glad to finally win his biggest title since Cincinnati in 2012, when he also won Wimbledon.

The father of two sets of twins joked that it was about time he brought his brood a substantial trophy to play with.

"I finally got a big trophy for kids," he said Sunday. "I've been bringing home some smaller ones. I keep telling them they are still trophies, but this one should satisfy them."

After a finals loss a week ago in Toronto to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Federer said Sunday that he had considered not playing this event and saving himself for the US Open.

"I had to try to back up a tough week from last week, I didn't think it was possible," he said.

"For just a day or so on Monday, I was considering not playing. We don't need to take chances here.

- 'I played with less pressure' -

"I need to be smart about how much I play, when I play, and how do I feel.

"In practise I felt like I was recovering quickly, and I gave it to a go. I played with less pressure. You never know how you will end up feeling midway through the week."

Federer said his decision to carry on proved to be the right one.

"It got better and better as the week progressed. I served clutch when I had to," said the 17-time Grand Slam champion. "So I'm very happy about the week, overall it went from good to great."

Federer ran away with the opening set but suffered a lapse in the second as Ferrer took it to 5-0 and needed three set points to finally level at one set each.

But after a rare mid-match visit to the locker room after losing the second, Federer stormed back to take the match by the throat, breaking for 3-1 in the third and putting his Spanish opponent under pressure as Ferrer saved four set points to hold for 2-4.

It was only a matter of time as Federer's shot making began to tell. The second seed won a love game for a 5-2 margin before breaking Ferrer for the final time to win.

"I made the final," said the good-natured Ferrer, winner of one Masters title. "But I can never beat Roger, he's too much for me.

"I'm still lucky to be playing with the best in the world. Roger deserved to win the title."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com