By Chris Oddo | Sunday July 31, 2016

Novak Djokovic wiped the bad taste of a Wimbledon defeat from his mouth with a pulsating performance at the Rogers Cup in Toronto this weekend. Djokovic downed red-hot Gael Monfils in straight-sets on Saturday and on Sunday he was equally dominant in defeating Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 7-5, to claim his record 30th Masters 1000 title.

Highlights, Stats and More: Rogers Cup Final Live Blog

Djokovic wasn’t in his typical menacing form early in the week, but by the weekend the message was clear that he’s still far and away the baddest man on the ATP Tour.

“Coming into this tournament I wanted to get as many matches as possible,” a satisfied Djokovic said after his victory. “I struggled a little bit with the rhythm in the first couple of rounds here, but I’ve raised the level of my game as the tournament went on. Best two performance came at the right time—last night in semis today in finals.”

The Serb improved to 51-4 on the season and 33-1 on hard courts. His four Canadian titles rank as the second-most by any man, behind Ivan Lendl.

“Sounds great,” said Djokovic, “but we keep on going.”

The rout looked to be on as Djokovic took a set and a break lead early in the second, but Nishikori showed strength of character and game by breaking to level at three-all. For a brief spell in the middle of the second set he was toe-to-toe with Djokovic, but he couldn’t make his good fortunes last.

Djokovic notched a break in the 11th game of set two and served the match out with ease to clinch his 66th career title. "He played really deep, and he didn't give me any, like, free points,” Nishikori said. “Especially he was serving really well, so I didn't have many chances for my return game. So I was really feeling the pressure every game.”

The world No. 6 snapped a personal 16-match losing streak against the Top 5 when he defeated Stan Wawrinka in Saturday’s semifinal, but he could not crack the code of the game’s premier player. He fell to Djokovic for the ninth straight time.

"I think still Novak is biggest challenge for me to win against him,” he said. “Especially on hard court he's been beating me."

Djokovic, who has now won 11 of the last 15 Masters 1000 events, will now set his sights on the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio with renewed confidence.

“I’m just very pleased with the way I played and with the way I feel—hopefully I can carry that into Rio,” he said.