Serbian world No. 1 Novak Djokovic topped Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) Friday to set up an early-season showdown against Rafael Nadal in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final.
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World No. 5 Rafael Nadal will attempt to capture his first ATP World Tour hard-court title in two years on Saturday when he faces top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the Qatar Open final.
He thus moves ahead in his head-to-head with Nadal to 24-23 and also looks in prime condition to win the Australian Open, which serves off next week.
“But it’s lovely. It’s a new chapter of my life, and I enjoy it. I was actually saying already in the last 12 months or so how that has positively reflected on my tennis and my mindset, and actually finding the meaning and the objective to whatever I’m doing”.
Nadal’s serve dominated throughout against the player who knocked out the reigning champion and fourth seed David Ferrer in the first round. “I try to keep an optimistic approach to every match and every tournament”.
Saturday’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.
At four hours and three minutes, this contest is one of the longest-ever three-set matches and what a match it was.
An awed Nadal described Djokovic’s performance in the Qatar final as “perfection” and the highlights reel has been sober viewing for the Serb’s top rivals warming up in Australia.
Murray, who’s wife Kim is expected to give birth to the couple’s first child in February, was runner-up to Djokovic a year ago, falling in the final in four sets. “Since I know this sport I never saw somebody playing at this level”. “I just think a day off or two will make a world of difference”.
This event marked the only occasion on which the Serb failed to reach a final in 2015, but lightning has not struck twice in Doha.
Staggering Nadal with successive forehand winners for break point, Djokovic drilled a low backhand victor crosscourt to break for 5-1. I am motivated for it.
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“I know if I’m playing well, I am going to have opportunities”, Nadal said. “A lot of people have asked me how it’s going to affect my career, but my concern is that the baby becomes the No1 priority and tennis No2”, he says, diplomatically. He has now claimed 11 consecutive sets against Nadal since the Spaniard prevailed in the 2014 Roland Garros final. “For sure it’s important for my confidence, confirming that the end of the 2015 season had been something realistic and (in) the beginning of 2016 I (am) still playing well”.
