Andy Murray could face Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati Masters final
Another Djokovic duel?
Tuesday 18 August 2015 18:03, UK
Andy Murray has been drawn on the opposite side of the draw to Novak Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters - setting up a potential final showdown.
It would be a repeat of the Montreal Masters final between the world's two highest-ranked players. In Canada, Murray ended an eight-match losing streak against Djokovic with a 6-4 4-6 6-3 win.
But a thrilling semi-final looms for Murray before he worries about a Djokovic rematch...
Mardy Fish is up first
Murray's campaign will begin against an American veteran playing on home soil, and a brief look at their career head-to-head stats might cause a surprise.
In eight matches they have won four each and, with Fish riding the tide out of the sport after the US Open, it could make him more dangerous than ever.
Ranked at 705th in the world and aged 33, Fish impressed against Viktor Troicki to set up his Murray clash and has a history of peaking in Cincinnati. Five years ago he took Roger Federer three sets, ultimately in vain, in the final and with his retirement just weeks away he might fancy one big scalp on his CV before he hangs his racquet up forever.
Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16
The Scot could be forgiven for wincing as he remembers his previous match against Dimitrov, a punishing Australian Open encounter in January that he won but not without a fight.
Murray edged Dimitrov after more than three-and-a-half hours in a late-night contest so will understand the threat posed by the Bulgarian should they meet in the last 16. After that scrap Down Under, Murray emphasised how healthy his previously injured back felt, perhaps a sign of the form that was to come.
He is on the winning side of a 5-2 head-to-head record against Dimitrov, the 16th seed in Cincinnati, but will be wary of the Bulgarian’s reputation as an ever-improving force.
Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals
It is likely that Cilic, the seventh seed, will await Murray in the final eight but the controversial Nick Kyrgios is another candidate to play the British No 1.
The Australian who tarnished his Montreal Masters campaign by insulting Stan Wawrinka is likely to meet Cilic in the last 16 - but the Croatian player’s expertise on American hard courts needs little emphasising.
He is the reigning US Open champion after capturing a maiden Grand Slam last year and, as the world No 9, will fancy his chances of putting up a rugged defence of that title. First, though, the small matter of a potential crunch clash with Murray in Ohio.
Roger Federer in the semi-finals
And should Murray oust the US Open champion, he will be rewarded by the prospect of facing the fresh and returning Roger Federer in the final four and a repeat of their Wimbledon semi-final.
The Swiss legend opted out of Montreal so will resume his US Open build-up in Cincinnati, but a semi-final clash against Murray depends on Federer progressing through a likely match-up against Rafael Nadal in the last 16.
Should the stars align and pit Murray and Federer together we will be treated to a mouth-watering clash just days after the Scot overtook the Swiss player as the world No 2. Federer has won 13 career matches to Murray’s 11 in the head-to-head stakes but we are yet to see whether their Cincinnati progress is driven by freshness or momentum…
Novak Djokovic in the final
Here we go again. Well, that’s if Murray can hurdle over the considerable obstacles that block his path to the final and Djokovic can steer himself beyond the likes of Stan Wawrinka.
Who would relish a Montreal Masters final rematch more? Murray, after eight winless matches against his long-time foe, has the momentum but Djokovic would want to set him straight before the US Open.
The dust hasn’t yet settled from their Canadian clash but, from opposite sides of the Cincinnati draw, the world’s two premier players will eye each other again.
Watch the Cincinnati Masters live on Sky Sports from 4pm on Monday to Friday, at 6pm at the weekend. Not a Sky subscriber? Then watch it for just £6.99 on NOW TV.
