CINCINNATI, Aug 21: Grigor Dimitrov captured his seventh and biggest career title on Sunday, defeating Australia�s Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 to win the ATP Cincinnati Masters and boost his confidence for the US Open.
The 11th-ranked Bulgarian never dropped a set in taking the top prize of $954,225 and his first Masters title, a perfect stepping stone into the year�s last Grand Slam event that begins a week from Monday.
A break in each set was enough for the seventh seed to claim his third title of the year and seventh of his career.
�I�m just happy. There�s nothing else I can say, honestly,� the 26-year-old told reporters.
�I�m just happy and I�m humbled to have that trophy in my hands, and especially to win here, my first Masters 1000.
�I always like this tournament. I have played it quite a few times and always thought this can be maybe one of the first ones, and it is the first one.�
Dimitrov did not drop a set all tournament, the first player to do so at a Masters 1000 tournament since Novak Djokovic�s 2007 win at Miami.
He was almost impregnable on serve, winning 52 of his 53 service games.
�Going to the (US) Open, it�s for sure a lot of positivity with it,� said Dimitrov, a semifinalist at the Australian Open in January.
�But the most important thing now is just to stay grounded, keep on doing the same work, believe in myself, and just prepare the best way that I can for the Open.�
Both players were in their maiden Masters 1000 title match but Dimitrov showed more poise than his 22-year-old opponent, saving a pair of early break points to set the tone.
Kyrgios�s 31 unforced errors comfortably outstripped his 21 winners, the combustible Australian unable to find the magic he produced in his quarterfinal win over Nadal. � Agencies
