Novak Djokovic has achieved plenty in his career and his return to the top of the tennis tree could yet yield another historic landmark after he beat Marin Cilic in three hard-fought sets to reach the Cincinnati Masters final.
For all the achievements of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic himself, none of them have managed to win all nine of the 1000 Series titles despite claiming 90 Masters crowns between them.
Both Federer and Nadal are two short of the set, Djokovic just one and it is Cincinnati that eludes him.
The Serb, a 13-time Grand Slam winner, claimed a memorable Wimbledon title in July – a victory that marked the culmination of a two-year rise and fall from the very top of the game.
In June 2016 Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win a first French Open title and with it become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
What followed was a remarkable descent that involved shock defeats, new coaches, operations and time away from the court but on Sunday he will get the chance to underline his return to the top.
Djokovic will face either Federer or David Goffin in Sunday’s final, live on Sky Sports Arena from 9pm, after a 6-4, 3-6 6-3 victory over world No 7 Cilic that showcased all the form and qualities of his dominance between 2011 and that landmark moment in Paris.
Djokovic was pushed all the way by Cilic, and the overall numbers showed that he won just two more points than his opponent, the 2016 champion in Cincinnati, but it was his ability on the points that mattered that saw him through to a sixth final in the tournament.
His record in Ohio is mixed, having won all five previous semi-finals, he has gone on to lose all five finals that he has reached, three of those against Federer whom he could line up against on Sunday evening.
Djokovic has won each of the other eight Masters titles on at least two occasions and with 30 Masters titles to his name he is second only to Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. But his slide down the rankings means he is without a Masters title since Toronto in 2016, but he looks in the mood to end that run.
Tenacity has been the hallmark of Djokovic’s run this week, and his win over Cilic was the fourth time he has been forced to go to all three sets.
Cilic came into the contest having won their last two meetings, including victory in the Queen’s final earlier this year, and also with the knowledge that he had a touch more pedigree at the venue.
