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Montreal. Throughout this Rogers Cup, Novak Djokovic appeared unbeatable, each victory more dominant, more lopsided than the one before. By Sunday’s final, his latest title in this increasingly remarkable season seemed inevitable.

To everyone, that is, except for Mardy Fish. On a cloudy, windy afternoon, Fish matched Djokovic winner for winner, ace for ace. Djokovic needed three sets and more than two hours to earn a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory. Afterward, he leapt into the air, pumped his fists and high-fived his entourage in yet another celebration.

Thus continued his march. Consider that in 2011, Djokovic has won 53 matches and nine tournaments, including two Grand Slams and now five Masters 1000 titles, a men’s tennis first. He is 29-0 on hard courts and 7-0 on grass. He has won indoors and outdoors, and on four continents. During all of that, he lost exactly once.

“We’re getting tired of this,” Fish said on Sunday during an on‑court interview.

“I’m not getting tired of this,” Djokovic responded.

While his top challengers — Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray — made early exits here, Djokovic became the first men’s player since Pete Sampras in 1993 to win the first tournament he played after becoming the world No. 1.

Djokovic defeated a taller man in Marin Cilic and a superior athlete in Gael Monfils. He bested the unorthodox Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who retired with an arm injury with Djokovic leading by 6-4, 3-0, and the versatile Fish. He won five matches, against five different styles, and dropped only one set.

Opponents spoke of Djokovic as if in awe of his surreal season. Tsonga said he had “no weaknesses” and felt it necessary to remind people that while Djokovic “plays incredible tennis, he is not an alien.”

Against Fish, Djokovic looked sluggish early, out of rhythm, off his game. His serve, once a weakness and now the key to his success, sprayed everywhere but in. Yet he gutted out a victory, seizing the smallest opening, winning the first set, dropping the second and saving his best for the third.

For Djokovic, it was that kind of tournament. It has been that kind of year.

Djokovic’s coach Marian Vajda said he first sensed this season could be special in January. He said Djokovic asked after he won the Australian Open when he might rise to No. 1. Vajda told him perhaps after the US Open, which begins later this month.

“He keeps winning,” Vajda said. “I didn’t expect that great, this fast.”

As Djokovic, 24, rises above his longtime rivals, years after his first Grand Slam title in 2008, he has started to approach history as well. He led his native Serbia to its first Davis Cup title. He also drew comparisons to John McEnroe’s memorable season in 1984, when he finished 82-3.

If Djokovic wins the remainder of his schedule, he could finish the season with some 90 victories and one loss, which would qualify as the best season in modern tennis history, ahead of Martina Navratilova’s 86-1 mark in 1983.

Few expect Djokovic to win out, himself included. But the possibility remains, which is good for Djokovic and good for tennis.

The New York Times