okovic wins Montreal crown for year's ninth title

by Maryam Mirza Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:35 pm

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MONTREAL: Novak Djokovic says a small shoulder niggle which bothered him en route to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 defeat of Mardy Fish to win the Montreal Masters won't be a problem in next week's final tune-up before the US Open.

The word number one Djokovic, winner of his ninth ATP title this season, admitted he had a small physical worry in Sunday's final.

The Serb confirmed the world number one ranking which which he claimed after winning Wimbledon as he beat Fish for the seventh time without a loss.

Djokovic has now won nine titles in 2011 in nine attempts. He stands a phenomenal 53-1 this season, with his only loss coming against Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals.

Djokovic becomes the first man to win five Masters 1000 titles in the same season having also claimed trophies at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome.

The 24-year-old is the first player to win an ATP title in his debut as number one since Pete Sampras in Hong Kong in April 1993.

Djokovic now stands 27-13 in career finals while Fish, winner of the Atlanta title last month, was competing in his third straight final of the pre-US Open summer.

Fish saved three match points in final game from Djokovic errors before the Serb triumphed on his fourth opportunity with a service winner after two hours, 23 minutes.

Djokovic blew through the opening set in 38 minutes as he broke the last two Fish serves. But the dangerous American found his range in the second, finally earning a break on his ninth opportunity of the afternoon and taking a 3-2 lead.

That margin was enough to give Fish hope as he levelled the match at a set each.

But Djokovic showed the class that has characterised his season, breaking for a 3-2 lead to love and then producing a love game on serve for a 5-3 margin.

Fish made life tough until the end as he saved three match points from Djokovic errors. With Djokovic firing an unreturnable serve to clinch the victory in front of a crowd sprinkled with flag-waving Serbs.