Roger Federer dominates Novak Djokovic at Cincinnati

Roger Federer finds a lot to like about Cincinnati — the big crowds for his matches, the quiet time away from the court, the way his game seems to come together on the fast, blue courts.

It probably helps that he often takes home the trophy too.

Make it five for Federer.

The world’s top-ranked player won a record fifth Cincinnati title Sunday, dominating second-ranked Novak Djokovic in an unprecedented way at the start of a 6-0, 7-6 (7) win for the Western & Southern Open championship in suburban Mason, Ohio.

The 31-year-old Swiss star has enjoyed many of his one-week visits. None was better than the latest.

“Looking back, it’s just unbelievable,” Federer said. “This was probably the best week for me here in Cincinnati. I didn’t lose a set. This is very sweet, no doubt about it.”

Federer heads to the U.S. Open feeling healthy and fine-tuned. He skipped the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week, giving himself some time to recover from the Olympics in London.

He has also regained the upper hand against one of the players who stands in his way.

Djokovic had put together a run of three consecutive wins over Federer in tournament semifinals, starting with the U.S. Open last year. Federer turned it around by beating the Serb in the semis at Wimbledon last month.

On the women’s side at Mason, China’s Li Na overcame an awful first set to get her first title of the season.

Li finally got her shots to stay in the court during the second set and got the better of several long rallies, beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, for the championship of the Western & Southern Open.

The final matched players who knocked the Williams sisters out of an already depleted tournament.

ETC.

Steelers edge Luck, Colts

Andrew Luck shook off two early interceptions to put together three second-quarter scoring drives, giving the Indianapolis Colts a halftime lead before the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied for a 26-24 exhibition victory at Pittsburgh.

The top overall pick completed 16 of 25 passes for 175 yards and added a one-yard touchdown run. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 81 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Steelers, who took an early 14-0 lead when Ike Taylor picked off Luck’s pass and took it 50 yards for a score.

The interception hardly rattled Luck, who led the Colts to scores on three of their next four drives. By the time he left, Indianapolis held a 17-14 lead at the break.

Rookie Danny Hrapmann kicked four second-half field goals for the Steelers, including the 22-yard winner with 23 seconds remaining.

New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams agreed to a four-year contract extension that would keep him with the team through 2016.

The deal announced by the club Sunday morning comes as the 40-year-old Williams heads into the final year of the contract he received when he took his first NBA head coaching job in New Orleans in 2010.

The Hornets did not release contract terms, but Williams confirmed the length of the extension in a text message to the Associated Press.

Williams took the Hornets to the playoffs in his first season with a 46-36 record. Last season, the club was 21-45 after trading star Chris Paul to the Clippers in a deal that helped New Orleans build for the future with the acquisition of 23-year-old shooting guard Eric Gordon and an additional first-round draft choice.

The Hornets then won the NBA’s draft lottery and selected Kentucky star Anthony Davis first overall.

Teenagers Jessica Parratto and Steele Johnson won their second titles in two days during the final day of the U.S. national diving championships at Greensboro, N.C.

Parratto, the 18-year-old Indianapolis diver who won the women’s 10-meter platform Saturday, teamed with 17-year-old Anna James of Midland, Texas, to win the women’s synchronized 10-meter platform for the first time.

The 16-year-old Johnson, the men’s synchronized 10-meter platform title winner Saturday, added his first men’s 10-meter platform championship Sunday in a runaway. He posted four dives of 80 points or better, including a final-round best of 99.00 on a back 31/2-somersault tuck.