Roger Federer Goes for 50th ATP Title Against Blake in Cincinnati

Federer has a 6-0 career mark against Blake, winning two of the meetings in finals, at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells in March 2006 and at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai last November.

Federer, who won the Cincy title two years ago, is 4-3 in finals this season and 49-16 in his career. This is also Federer’s 20th career ATP Masters Series final (13-6). Federer has won 34 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 an 11-1 record against Americans in finals (lost to Agassi ’02 Miami). Blake is 1-2 in ATP finals this year and 9-9 in his career. His previous ATP Masters Series final was in Indian Wells last year (l. to Federer).

Federer is attempting to capture his 50th career title. If he wins on Sunday, he would become the fifth-youngest player to accomplish the feat at 26 years, 11 days (replacing Sampras). He would also become the ninth player in the Open Era (since 1968) to win at least 50 career.

Federer also enjoys a career record of 150-45 since playing his first ATP Masters Series in Miami (l. to Carlsen in 1st RD) in 1999. The Swiss has a 13-6 mark in finals with four losses on clay (three to Nadal). He owns 13 career ATP Masters Series shields, including nine since 2005, and second all-time (since 1990) behind Andre Agassi (17). Federer won six different AMS tournaments – Cincinnati, Hamburg, Indian Wells, Madrid, Miami and Canada (Toronto) – and also a finalist in Monte Carlo (twice) and Rome (twice).

The 27-year-old Blake enters his first final with an 11-5 career record in his sixth appearanc. His previous best was the third round in 2001 (l. to No. 7 Rafter) and 2003 (l. to No. 4 Roddick).

Four of Blake's five career losses in Cincinnati have come to Top 10 opponents (also lost to No. 8 Ferrero in ’02, No. 1 Federer in ’05). Blake opened the tournament on Tuesday with a 76(5) 61 victory over Colombian qualifier Alejandro Falla and followed with a 64 64 win over German Nicolas Kiefer on Wednesday, 61 64 over last year’s finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero, 57 64 64 over American wild card Sam Querrey in the quarterfinals and No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko 64 62 in the semifinals.

Blake's been broken four times in 54 games this week, losing serve once in the 1st RD vs. Falla, once in the QF vs. Querrey and twice in the SF vs. Davydenko. He has saved eight of 12 break points.

The winner earns 500 ATP Ranking points and $400,000 while the finalist collects 350 points and $200,000. (ATP Digital Services)