Britain's Andy Murray won the Cincinnati Open Sunday when his opponent in the final, Serbia's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, retired injured. Murray was already in control and leading 6-4, 3-0 when Djokovic, who had received treatment to his right shoulder at the end of the first set, called it quits, raising doubts over his fitness ahead of the US Open. It was just the second defeat this year for the in-form Djokovic, whose victories this season included the Australian Open and Wimbledon championships, but could not have come at a worse time with the last Grand Slam of 2011 due to start in New York on Aug. 29. Djokovic, chasing an unprecedented sixth Masters Series title this season, had struggled from the outset with Murray breaking his first service game. The Serb showed some discomfort with his shoulder but was still able to break back to 3-3 and bring the crowd to life, in anticipation of a real contest. But Murray, looking confident and efficient, broke again straight away, finishing off a magnificent rally with a superb cross-court forehand winner. Murray served out the set and Djokovic called for a medical time-out during the interval, receiving an extensive massage to his right shoulder and upper-arm. He returned to the court but was in clear discomfort and after dropping his first two service games to trail 3-0, he conceded defeat and came to the net to shake hands with Murray. Djokovic claimed his 57th match victory of the season with an abbreviated semifinal victory over Tomas Berdych. He advanced after taking the first set 7-5 when the eighth-seeded Czech retired with a sore right shoulder. Murray, meanwhile, had to battle to hold off top American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (10-8). Sunday's women's final will see fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova taking on 13th-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. Sharapova shrugged off a slow start to beat second-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Jankovic ousted ninth-seeded German Maria Petkovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. Sharapova will be vying for a second title of 2011, after triumphing in Rome. She will also be trying to improve on her runner-up finish here last year.
