More of the Same: Novak Djokovic Wins 30th Masters Title

Men’s Tennis on the ATP World Tour is back to normal after a lapse at Wimbledon when Djokovic raised yet another trophy on Sunday. 

For 29 days the ATP World Tour was thrown into a mad frenzy. Its almost as if the apocalypse had arrived.

On the afternoon of July 2nd during the third round at Wimbledon on court number one, Sam Querrey accomplished something that no player, even the rest of the big four couldn’t accomplish.

With a 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory over the course of two days thanks to rain, Querrey handed Novak Djokovic his first loss in his last 30 grand slam matches. The fact that Andy Murray won Wimbledon wasn’t surprising, it was the fact that he didn’t face his biggest current rival.

That is how much pressure has been on Djokovic over the last two years, and its obvious that going for the calendar year grand slam  took it out of him mentally and physically. Even the best are human when we least expect it. Serena Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open is another great example.

As crazy as this sounds, exiting Wimbledon so early was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

“I trust that everything happens for a reason,” said Djokovic after his defeat. “I didn’t enjoy losing in the first week of a Grand Slam, but the next day it was already behind me. I had so much to do in my private life, being a father and husband.”

For the first time in months, Djokovic actually got to take a lot of time off, and it allowed him to shut his tennis brain down. This served him well this week. With his last match behind him, Djokovic was ready to win more tournaments.

Despite struggling earlier in the week, the world number one quickly found the elite return game that has separated him from the rest of top players. That was on full display today in 6-3, 7-5 straight sets victory over world number seven Kei Nishikori.

The win was his ninth straight over the Japanese number one, improving his overall head to head record to 10-2. In addition, Djokovic now has 66 career ATP Tour level wins, just three behind Rafael Nadal for fifth in the Open Era.

This is his seventh crown this season, and fourth at the Masters 1000 level adding to titles in Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid. His win in Miami was also against Nishikori.

Next: Rogers Cup Recap and Atlanta Preview

Djokovic’s fourth career Rogers Cup crown (most among active players), not only extended his dominance in Masters events, but also the general ownership over these events by the “big four”

Individually, the 29-year-old’s 30th Masters title extended his hold on that record to two over Nadal (28), and six over Federer (24). He has captured six titles at Miami, five at Indian Wells, four in Rome, and three in Shanghai, and two in Madrid, Monte Carlo.

The only Masters event Djokovic has yet to put on his resume is the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. If he wins the tournament this year, he will make more tennis history becoming the first male singles player to win all nine titles.

Djokovic takes home $782,525 in prize money, and 1000 ranking points needing just one hour and 23 minutes to dispose of Nishikori. He increased his hold on the number one position over Murray seeking to earn the year end number one ranking yet again. He has of course already qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour finals.

This tournament is where his success at this level of competition started. He won his first career Masters 1000 title in Canada in 2007, and now his current season is back on track, answering all questions about his game heading into the week. Only Ivan Lendl. He also moves into first in the Emirates ATP U.S. Open qualifying series bonus race.

He played his best when it mattered most, and after struggling at points with his serve against Monfils, he failed to register a double-fault today, and won almost all the points from the baseline.

He converted three of five breakpoint chances, and was dominant with his first and second serve. He made ten less unforced errors, and won all the big points especially in the second set when it looked like Nishikori had the momentum to take it to a decider.

In the end Nishikori’s 28 unforced errors, particularly on forehand shots that landed on the net was to much to overcome. Nishikori should be proud of his effort in the second set, and he will take home $383,690 in prize money and 600 ranking points for his efforts.

After easily taking the opening set, and leading 3-1 in the second set, the match just like that looked to be over. Instead Nishikori stepped up his game winning the next three games to take a 4-3 lead. Djokovic was able to respond leveling twice at 4-4 and 5-5 before winning Nishikori’s final service game. This allowed him to serve for the set, and despite needing extra points at deuce, he got the job done.

Djokovic shifts his focus to the Olympic Games in Rio as he goes for his first gold medal. The full Tour returns next for the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati

Stay tuned to Lob and Smash for coverage of the Olympics and upcoming tournaments!