Djokovic through to Rogers Cup final

Kei Nishikori missed out on another opportunity to win his first Masters title, falling 6-3, 7-5 to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday.

Nishikori saved two match points, but followed it up with a netted forehand and a return that ballooned off his racquet frame as Djokovic racked up another milestone in his astonishing career. Ten days ago, Monfils beat Yen-Hsun Lu in straight sets in Washington.

New city, same Monfils, it seemed. Only Ivan Lendl (six) has won the Rogers Cup more times than the Serbian star.

Given how hard he pushed Djokovic in the final set, Nishikori should head into Rio, where he’ll be representing Japan, with plenty of confidence as he continues to establish himself as one of the most legitimate threats to eventually crack tennis’ top four.

“For sure I’m not fresh”, he said.

Djokovic said he found form at the right time in Toronto, taking the opening matches to get his rhythm back following his early exit in London. It can happen, you know. Big match like this, you learn.

With Raonic out of the draw, Djokovic had officially assumed the role as the main attraction. We are all here to connect through tennis, through passion for the sport. “I always felt like at home”.

Djokovic broke Nishikori early in the match and went on to a quick first-set win, helped along by unforced errors from the Japanese player.

“That’s it”, Wawrinka said.

Overall, however, the first set was far from ugly.

But midway through Sunday’s first set it became clear Nishikori couldn’t keep pace with Djokovic, who won his 30th ATP Masters 1000 title and fourth Rogers Cup trophy.

The world No. 6 snapped a personal 16-match losing streak against the Top 5 when he defeated Stan Wawrinka in Saturday’s semifinal, but he could not crack the code of the game’s premier player. He was missing a little bit. “I think he had more chances to get the first set”. The final rally of the opening set was a lengthy and thrilling one, full of expertly placed shots and athletic chase-downs befitting of a final.

Novak Djokovic immediately made his intentions known on as to what his next goal on the court was: Olympic Gold.

Rain, and more rain, threatened the afternoon start that would see the world’s best, Novak Djokovic, the man who has been No1 for over two unbroken years and would be playing in the 14th final of his last 15 Masters, go for a record 30th title at this elite level of the men’s tennis. Should he win, it’ll be his fourth title in Canada.

He’s already lost one such final to Djokovic this season and that’s when we were on him outright in Miami and he’s also lost to the Serb in Rome, Madrid and Melbourne this season.

Djokovic took a different approach than he normally does after winning.

“I’m going to try to extract that positivity out of that huge attention and energy that will be directed into the Olympic Games and hopefully put myself in a position to battle for a medal”.