Novak Djokovic is looking to become the first player in history to win at least one title at each of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events as he tackles the Cincinnati draw this week.
The Western and Southern Open, which kicks off tomorrow, is the only Masters trophy missing from the world No1’s cabinet and he has a chance to etch his name in the history books once again should he capture the title.
But first, Djokovic, who lost in the last-16 to Jo-Wifried Tsonga in Toronto last week, must negotiate a tricky draw. The top seed has a bye in the first round and awaits the winner of the match between Gilles Simon and a qualifier in the second.
He is drawn to potentially meet David Ferrer in the quarter-finals and Stan Wawrinka or Grigor Dimitrov in the semis before a possible final against Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych or Milos Raonic. Dimitrov and Wawrinka – two players who have created waves already this season – form an intriguing potential quarter-final although Wawrinka must first get past the likes of Ivo Karlovic or Marin Cilic.
Federer, a five-time champion in Cincinnati, faces a dicey opener against either Washington finalist Vasek Pospisil or Czech veteran Radek Stepanek. The Swiss could face Murray in the last eight and Raonic or Berdych in the semis.
In the qualifying rounds yesterday, Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri, who made the second round in Toronto last week, fought back from a 1-4 deficit in the final set against Michael Russel to defeat the American and advance to the final round, where he takes on Benjamin Becker of Germany, the top seed of the qualifying draw.
In the women’s competition, Serena and Venus Williams, who contested the Montreal semi-finals yesterday, have been placed on opposite sides of the draw with Venus facing a daunting first round against Czech lefty Lucie Safarova.
Serena, the No1 seed, could face ex-US Open champion Sam Stosur in the second round, Jelena Jankovic in the quarters and Agnieszka Radwanska in the semis.
