DPA/Dubai
Roger Federer set up match point with a second-serve ace, then slammed a winner into the empty corner to win his seventh title at the Dubai Classic yesterday, 6-3, 7-5 over Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss icon picked up the 84th title of his storied career as he ran his record over Djokovic to 20-17 with the victory in 84 minutes.
The title marked his second of the season after Brisbane in January. Four-time winner Djokovic suffered his first defeat in a Dubai final while Federer triumphed in his 129th career final.
“We seem to get the best out of each other,” Federer said. “I’m pleased that I was able to serve well and win the big points on these quick courts.
“I”m very, very happy,” he added after saving all seven break points he faced and breaking Djokovic once per set.
“Federer played some great points and you have to congratulate him for that,” Djokovic said.
Federer wasted no time in establishing his rhythm in the opening set, saving a pair of break points in the third game and holding to love for 3-2 in front of 5,000 enthusiastic fans who gave him a standing ovation when he was introduced pre-match.
The Swiss earned a break for 5-3 after a pair of Djokovic backhand errors and took the early lead a game later as Djokovic saved a first set point but sent a forehand long on a second after 37 minutes.
Djokovic began a recovery in the second set by keeping up a steady pace but the top seeded Serb escaped a 0-30 crisis in the seventh game, benefiting from a pair of Federer errors to hold for 4-3. The excitement picked up in the second set, with the 33-year-old Swiss saving two break points in the eighth game.
In the dramatic 10th, Federer came from 0-30 down by saving a pair of Djokovic set points and then hammering over his ninth and tenth aces to make it 5-5.
A game later, the 17-time grand slam champion struck for a break, taking a 6-5 lead as Djokovic double-faulted into a break point and then could not touch a Federer forehand winner.
A game later, Federer claimed victory but not without a struggle.
Djokovic saved a first match point from a Federer forehand to the net followed by a double-fault for a break point. A Djokovic error staved off disaster before Federer closed out victory.
Between them Federer and Djokovic have won 11 of the last 13 editions at the Aviation Club.
Acapulco: Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Mexican Open in Acapulco due to a stomach virus, keeping her out of the semi-finals.
