Djokovic crowned chion in Qatar

Date

1/10/2016 4:12:59 PM

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(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani watching the final of Qatar ExxonMobil Open for men at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani the Personal Representative of Emir Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and President of Qatar Tennis Federation Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi are also seen. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic defeated Spanish Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-2 to lift the trophy.

French Open 2004 Champion Argentinian Gaston Gaudio presenting the Golden Falcon Trophy to the Champion of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016 Serbian Novak Djokovic. Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi Chairman Higher Organising Committee and President of Qatar Tennis Federation (left) and Karim Alami Tournament Director also look on.

BY RIZWAN REHMAT

DOHA: The world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia yesterday handed arch-rival Rafael Nadal of Spain one of his worst defeats to win the Qatar ExxonMobil Open title for the first time.

Playing near-perfect tennis top seed Djokovic won 6-1 6-2 in just 73 minutes of exhilarating tennis at a packed Khalifa Tennis Complex.

Yesterday’s win was Djokovic’s 16th straight final triumph pushing his overall stats to 45-6 in his last 51 matches on the ATP Tour. It was Djokovic’s 12th title win since he lost the quarter-final here last year.

The tall Serbian now has 60 career title wins.

The Doha win also gave Djokovic slight edge against Nadal as he now leads 24-23 in their overall head-to-head clashes on the Tour.

It was Nadal’s worst showing against Djokovic as the Spaniard only won a total of 3 games in the one-sided final.

“I will remember this trophy win for one particular reason. My grandfather used to call me ‘falcon’ and this trophy is something that I will always cherish” Djokovic said after winning the top prize of $201165 and the falcon-shaped trophy.

“I am living the time of my life. I am trying to use every possible moment and enjoy it and use this confidence. It is easy to lose confidence than to gain confidence” Djokovic 28 said.

“Hopefully I will be able to just as well in Melbourne also” he said.

“Rafa always represents a great challenge. We have played 47 times. The rivalry goes back over 10 years. This is the first time I lead head-to-head (smiles). I know we will face each other many more times” he said.

“I played pretty much perfect tennis from the beginning. I managed to get the shots the way I imagined I would in the final” Djokovic said.

“It is always easier said than done. It gives me great satisfaction to have played for the trophy against Rafa” he said.

Nadal who won $105940 for his week’s efforts this past week said: “It was great to play the final here. I finished 2015 strongly and I have started the new season well. I will fight again and I will keep working hard so that I am ready for Australia.”

The second seed added: “I want to thank (QTF President) Nasser bin Khelaifi and (Tournament Director) Karim Alami and the fans for their support. It feels like I am playing at home. I have stayed many weeks here and I come here often. Many thanks to all the fans.”

Djokovic launched the proceedings in the final with an ace and grabbed game 1 in similar fashion to lead 1-0 after a couple of exchanges on deuce. Djokovic quickly cranked up the volume by breaking Nadal in game 2 with a neat volley at 30-0 followed by deep forehand that the Spaniard could not return from the baseline.

Smacking his lips on an ace at 30-15 in the game three Djokovic served powerfully once again to race to a 3-0 lead in the title clash watched by Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola from the VIP enclosure.

Despite one rally going the distance of 20 shots Nadal initiated a mini-revival to hold serve in game 4 with an ace following a couple of long returns from Djokovic.

The Serb however stepped up the pressure on Nadal in game 5 when he fired a couple powerful forehand shots from the baseline that Nadal couldn’t retrieve Within seconds Djokovic jumped to a 4-1 lead.

In game five Djokovic produced three back-to-back baseline winners to grab a 5-1 lead on the Spaniard’s serve leaving Nadal seeking answers in what was the 47th clash between the two top seeds.

Djokovic reeled off another four successive points in game seven finishing off the set with an ace at 40-love.

The indomitable Serb took the first set in 31 minutes firing an astonishing 16 winners against 7 by Nadal.

The world number one broke Nadal in game 1 of the second set producing a delicate drop shot at 40-all before the Spaniard misfired with a long return that was ruled out after a TV replay challenge. In game two Nadal smashed two returns into the net as Djokovic produced two winners from the baseline to go 2-0 up.

Nadal restored a bit of parity in game three by holding his serve reducing the deficit at 1-2. The Serb who reached the quarter-finals last year quickly reasserted his authority to take game three (3-1). Seconds later Djokovic produced two backhand winners on Nadal’s serve before honing in on a volley to break the Spaniard in game 5 for a 4-1 lead.

Djokovic again held serve unleashing another round of deft placements from the baseline to take a 5-1 lead. Nadal held his serve to pick up his third game (2-5) overall but Djokovic capped his dream run in Doha in game seven finishing the set on an unforced error by Nadal on match point.

“To have won in two sets is a great feeling” Djokovic said.

“Every time we play against each other there’s a lot at stake” the Serb said. “Both of us have to go through a lot of emotions before a match. These kind of matches give me a great deal of satisfaction” he said.

The players now travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open the season’s first Grand Slam.

The Peninsula