World No. 1 Roger Federer captured his 50th career title, including his fifth of the season, as he defeated No. 9 seed James Blake 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters. It was Federer's second Cincinnati title in three years and his second ATP Masters Series title (Hamburg) this season.
With his 14th career ATP Masters Series shield in 20th final, Federer moved to within three of all-time leader Andre Agassi. Half of Federer's 50 career titles have come in Grand Slam (11) and ATP Masters Series (14) tournaments. He has also won three Tennis Masters Cup crowns.
Federer won the opening set in 26 minutes by breaking Blake in the second and sixth games and he saved three break points in the fifth game. In the second set, Federer broke in the seventh game as Blake netted a backhand.
Federer improved to 7-0 lifetime against Blake and he has won 35 consecutive matches against Americans since his last loss to Andy Roddick in the semifinals of ATP Masters Series Montreal on Aug. 9, 2003. Overall, Federer has a 12-1 record against Americans in finals (lost to Agassi in ’02 Miami).
Blake was appearing in his fourth ATP final of the year (1-3) and his second career ATP Masters Series title match ('06 Indian Wells). The 27-year-old American was looking to capture his 10th career ATP title (9-10 in finals).
YOUNGEST TO 50 TITLES – Federer became the fifth-youngest player to capture his 50th career title, (replacing Pete Sampras at 26 years, 1 month), and he also become the ninth player in the Open Era (since 1968) to win at least 50 career titles:
Age at 50th Title
1) Bjorn Borg 23 years, 7 months
2) Jimmy Connors 23 years, 11 months
3) John McEnroe 25 years, 2 months
4) Ivan Lendl 25 years, 7 months
5) Roger Federer 26 years, 11 days
FEDERER MILESTONE TITLES – Here is a look at Federer’s milestone titles in his career:
No. 1 2001 Milan d. Julien Boutter
No. 10 2003 Vienna d. Jiri Novak
No. 20 2004 US Open d. Lleyton Hewitt
No. 30 2005 Wimbledon d. Andy Roddick
No. 40 2006 Toronto d. Richard Gasquet
No. 50 2007 Cincinnati d. James Blake
Federer said: "It's not a goal [50 titles] I set myself in my career, but it's definitely a nice number to get to, especially in terms of titles. It's really a lot, you know, so it's great.
"I used to have tough times in Grand Slams and Masters Series, believe it or not, in the beginning of my career. So to come through and win that many Masters Series and Grand Slams, that's a great surprise, and I hope to keep it up from now on.
"It's been my best summer here... To come through and play 10 matches in, I don't know how many days it was, it's a great effort for me. Yeah, now I'm confident I'm going to be fine at the US Open."
Blake said: "Right now obviously I'm a competitor so right now it hurts. I would I have liked to have been holding up the winner's trophy. When I look back by tomorrow or something I'll have some pretty fond memories of this week. Think about the confidence I built, how well I played leading up to this match, just how really well I returned on the second serves, and really the fact that I'm leaving here healthy.
"That's about the biggest plus I could get going into the US Open. The fact that I'm playing pretty darn well on the American hard courts overall. A final in L.A., a final here, not really having a chance to compete in Montreal. But I'm confident going into New Haven where I've had a lot of success."
On Federer, Blake said: "Just about everything he does is pretty impressive. So, yeah, 50 titles at any age is impressive. 50 titles at 26 is incredible. 50 titles with 11 of them being Grand Slams, and I think now 14 being Masters Series, that's just phenomenal.
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