ROGER FEDERER overcame Mardy Fish 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 in the final of the Cincinnati Masters to win his first title since January's Australian Open. In a serve-dominated battle, the Swiss secured the only break of the match to lead 5-4 in the deciding set before serving out for his 63rd career title. The win sees Federer match Bjorn Borg for fifth on the all-time title list. His return to form also bodes well for his bid to win a 17th Grand Slam at the US Open which begins on 30 August. "I struggled at first here, I didn't like the heat but it has been an amazing run for me here," said Federer. American Fish, too, has much to be pleased about heading into Flushing Meadows. Aside from his gutsy display against the world number two in Sunday's final, the unseeded wild card entrant can also reflect on a fine week of hardcourt action during which he defeated an in-form Andy Murray and 2003 US Open winner Andy Roddick. Fish saved four break points, including one set point, in the first set, before emerging victorious thanks to a service winner in the tie-break. The 28-year-old wasted his only break point of the encounter in the fifth game of the second with a long forehand as the second set also went to a tie-break. This time, however, Federer assumed control at the net, losing only one point, to a Fish ace, to draw level. A third tie-break looked likely but Federer earned a rare break opportunity at 4-4 before Fish netted a routine backhand, albeit during another attritional baseline rally. Federer easily took the next game to close out the match in two hours and 40 minutes, ending his seven-month title drought that has featured a streak of three straight losses in finals. The triumph also means Federer becomes only the second player, alongside Swede Mats Wilander, to win the Cincinnati crown four times since he also won the Cincinnati title in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
