Djokovic seals Dubai title

DUBAI:Novak Djokovic won his fifth title in six tournaments and extended an unbeaten run to 18 matches as he clinched a fourth Dubai Open title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tomas Berdych yesterday.

The world number one from Serbia underlined his pre-eminence in the world game with an athletically aggressive performance against the world number six from the Czech Republic, who knocked out Roger Federer, the titleholder, in the semi-finals.

Berdych had chances to take control of the first set after making the first break of serve, but missed three chances to consolidate it, and also narrowly failed to convert three crucial break points in the following game.

These moments suggested that the biggest difference between the two men is a mental one, something indicated again near the end when Djokovic coped with a time violation warning from the umpire as he was serving for the match.

Djokovic was clearly delighted to triumph in his first tournament since successfully defending the Australian Open title five weeks ago.

“To prevail like this and to be the last one standing is thrilling for me,” he said of his 36th career title.

“It was a very close match and could have gone either way. It was never going to be an easy final because Tomas is a fantastic player. He’s been on the tour a long time and is very experienced.

“He beat Federer in an incredible match,” Djokovic added, referring to the three match points Berdych saved while halting the Grand Slam record-holder.

Djokovic also believes that his victory on Dubai’s fast courts will stand him in good stead with the year’s opening Masters event getting underway at Indian Wells next week.

“I haven’t always been the player who loves to play on the fast, super-fast surfaces (like this one), but I’m happy because during the week I can also work on my aggressivity, coming into the net, using my serve better,” he said.

“That’s what I have done in this tournament and in particular over the years. I have been trying to work on a few things that can give me more variety in the game, and I can use that in the tournaments to come.” Djokovic’s success on Saturday was also due to tactical prowess.

At times he provoked errors by subtlely making Berdych generate his own pace, and then increased his own pace or counter-attacked at well-timed moments.

There were certainly moments when it seemed that Berdych, a player sometimes troubled by tension, might get himself far enough in front to relax into overdrive.

He made the first break at 2-3, and having lost it in a game of four deuces, almost got another when he chiselled out three break points in the ninth game.

Had he converted any of these Berdych would have been serving for the set, but he missed his best chance at 30-40, with a forehand pulled wide, while Djokovic typically played two fine rallies on the others.

Djokovic also hung tough in the crises. Berdych, by contrast, was occasionally at his most fallible when it mattered most.

He allowed Djokovic’s break back for 4-4 after sneaking himself into a great position to make a stolen volley, only to miss the shot. Then when he was serving to save the set at 5-6 he played his worst game of the match.

The second set hinged on a break at a psychologically damaging time.

When Djokovic steepled up an enormous, but short lob and Berdych hammered it wide, it put the favorite 5-3 ahead and gave the underdog little time to repair the damage.

Although Berdych did get a break back point at 30-40, courtesy of a rare Djokovic double fault, the world number one played close to his best in four of the next five rallies, closing the match out.

“I gave everything yesterday and didn’t have enough today,” said Berdych. “And Novak deserved to win.

“Let’s see how long this guy is going to be around here. I will try to work hard and come back and try to fight for the win.”



Bhupathi-Llodra triumph

Mahesh Bhupathi won the first title of the 2013 season when he combined with French man Michael Llodra to edge past Robert Lindstedt and Nenand Zimonjic in the summit clash of the Dubai Tennis Championships, here on Saturday.

Unseeded Bhupathi and Llodra downed the third seeded rivals 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6) in the fiercely fought final. It was Bhupathi’s fifth title in Dubai.

He first won the Dubai title in 1998 with Leander Paes, then again in 2004 with Fabrice Santoro, in 2008 with Mark Knowles and last year with compatriot Rohan Bopanna.



Nadal in Mexico final

In Acapulco, Mexico, former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal continued his domination over countryman Nicolas Almagro yesterday to book his spot in the Mexican Open final against three-time defending champ David Ferrer.

The 26-year-old Nadal, who is seeking his 52nd career ATP Tour title, defeated Almagro 7-5, 6-4 in their one hour, 48 minute semifinal match.

Nadal has now reached his third-straight final after missing more than seven months with a left knee injury.

“I started the match a little bit nervous. I have not touched the ball as clean as in previous days and I played shorter than I would have liked, but I also faced a player who hits the ball very hard,” said Nadal, who is looking for his 38th clay court title Saturday.

In today’s final, he will square off against top seed Ferrer, who needed three sets to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 in the other semifinal.

Nadal claimed his victory on his first match point against third seeded Almagro, running his win streak over the fellow Spaniard to a perfect 9-0.

On the women’s side, Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro advanced to the final by easily beating compatriot Silvia Soler-Espinosa in two sets, 6-2, 6-1, in a match that lasted one hour and eight minutes.

In the other semi, Italian top seed Sara Errani booked her spot in the final with a dominating 6-2, 6-1 win over France’s Alize Cornet.

Pliskova, Mattek-Sands eye first title

In Kuala Lumpur, American wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova strolled into the BMW Malaysian Open final Saturday with both seeking their first WTA singles crown.

Mattek-Sands, who has 12 doubles titles to her name, including last week’s Dubai Duty Free Championships with Sania Mirza, cruised past third seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-4, 6-1 in 73 minutes to set-up a meeting with Pliskova today.

“This is an important tournament for me as I’ll be going for my first singles title. It will mean more to me than my 12 doubles crowns if I were to win it,” said Mattek-Sands, who is ranked world No. 197.

“I reached as high as 30 before all my injuries and I hope this is a good start for me to climb up the rankings.

“Anastasia played well but lost a bit of focus after the 30-minute rain delayed between sets.

“I took advantage of that to seal the win. I’m lucky to have played the last two matches in the evening so I wasn’t too tired,” she added.

Earlier yesterday, Pliskova crushed Ayumi Morita 6-0, 6-2 in 47 minutes to reach her first WTA final.

World No. 127 Pliskova, who has not dropped a set in the tournament, said she was surprised by the ease of the victory and by how well she has been playing in the BMW Malaysian Open.

“I expected a tough match but and I’m surprised it wasn’t,” said Pliskova, who turns 21 on March 21.