Federer beats Ferrer in three sets to claim sixth Cincinnati title

World number three Roger Federer won his sixth Cincinnati title as he defeated David Ferrer in hard-fought three-sets at the Western and Southern Open.

Federer won 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to extend his unbeaten run against the Spaniard to 16 matches. But the Swiss tennis ace was made to work by Ferrer, who was close to handing him his first love set since the 2008 French Open final.

It is the Federer's first Masters title since 2012, when he also won in Cincinnati, The BBC reported.

The former world number one broke his opponent eight games in the match and saved four breakpoints on his own serve in the penultimate game before taking the set 6-3.

World number six Ferrer struggled to hold serve in the first game of the second set, saving five breakpoints, but then stunned Federer with a triple break to take the set 6-1.

The third set went with serve until Federer broke in the fourth game to regain momentum at 3-1 up and the Swiss took control from there on in to claim his 80th career title.

Federer had lost his last two finals, to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in July and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Canadian Masters earlier this month, the report added.