Roger Federer will be playing for a tournament record-tying fourth career title on Sunday when he plays American wild card Mardy Fish in the final of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.
In their all-time meetings, Federer holds a 5-1 edge over Fish, although Fish did win their last match, which came in the Indian Wells semifinals in 2008. Their only previous meeting in a final came at Halle in 2004, and Federer prevailed in straight sets.
Federer is one of only four players to have won three titles in Cincinnati in the Open Era. Mats Wilander is the only player with four titles in the Open Era, while Federer stands with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras with three titles. All-time, Wilander, George Lott and Bobby Riggs own four Cincinnati titles.
With his win Saturday, Federer becomes just the 14th player in the 111-year history of the event to have reached the final at least four times. William Talbert holds the record with seven finals appearances.
Federer has now won eight matches in a row in Cincinnati. He is looking to be the first player to successfully defend his Cincinnati title Andre Agassi in 1995 and 1996. He would be the fourth player to repeat as Cincinnati champion in the Open Era.
Appearing in his 90th career final, Federer is in pursuit of his 17th career Masters 1000 title and his 63rd title overall.
Fish is the first unseeded player to reach the final since Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2006. An unseeded player has not won the Cincinnati title in the Open Era. Fish is the ninth unseeded player to reach the Cincinnati final in the Open Era, and just the third since 1985.
At No. 36, Fish is the lowest ranked player in the Cincinnati final since his own runner-up finish in 2003 when he was No. 41. If Fish wins, he'd be the lowest ranked champion since No. 49 Tom Gorman in 1975.
Fish is the seventh wild card to reach the Cincinnati final in the Open Era, and the first since Jimmy Connors in 1986. Two players have won the title in Cincinnati as a wild card: Boris Becker in 1985 and Harold Solomon in 1977.
Appearing in his 17th career final, Fish is playing for his first career Masters 1000 title and his sixth title overall.
Sunday's final will begin at noon and will be broadcast on CBS.