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.
Federer’s semi-final opponent David Goffin retired with a shoulder injury. Federer won the first set after a tie break 7-6(7-3). The players were locked 1-1 in the second when Goffin called it a night.
Federer, seven-for-seven in Cincinnati finals, will play in his 150th career final when he meets Djokovic on Sunday.
Though Djokovic has a 23-22 head-to-head edge but Federer has won all three of their Cincinnati final meetings.
The Swiss said he had not known for most of his semi-final that his Belgian opponent had been carrying an injury.
Federer said: “I did realise he wasn’t serving very big.
“I wasn’t sure if it was a tactic to get a higher first serve percentage.”
He was happy with the short night’s work after playing until after midnight in his quarter-final against Stan Wawrinka.
He said: “I got to bed at 3.30 in the morning. I’m tired. I’m going to recover for tomorrow and hopefully be in better shape.”
Federer said there was a lot on the line in the final.
He said: “This is a big match. I think we’re all a bit mentally and maybe physically tired but I’m looking forward to this final. There’s also a lot at stake for me. I’m going for my 99th title.”
Earlier, 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 against Cilic.
The Serb came through on the big points.
Djokovic said: “It’s been a rollercoaster week with matches, interruptions, and rain delays and everything.
“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.
He said: “I didn’t like that music in the first few games of the third set.”
Trending
- Getting to understand ‘The Story about Malaria’, by Michael Olatunbosun
- Tinubu receives leaders of Afenifere, says administration resolute in achieving economic security
- Kogi 2024: Gov. Ododo opens defence, tenders documents
- That story on ICPC, by Adenekan Shogunle
- Obi tasks FG on national grid collapse
- Probe panel: Kaduna lawmakers slam El-Rufai’s son, says threats won’t stop probe
- Breaking: Man City knocked out of Champions League by Real Madrid
- Breaking: Arsenal out of Champions League