Djokovic clinches fourth Dubai title

DPA/Dubai

The title in the Gulf was the fourth for the world number one, who also lifted it in 2009-11. Djokovic notched his 13th victory over Czech Berdych from 14 matches, taking just over 90 minutes.

The Serb finished it off on his second match point as he drove a forehand winner into the corner which the Czech could not return.

“It’s wonderful to be the last man standing and again holding the trophy,” said Djokovic. “It’s been a thrilling week for me, It was very successful.

“It was never going to be an easy match with Tomas, he’s a top 10 player and a Grand Slam finalist. It was close, a matter of a few points.”

Djokovic, who will keep a strong grip on the top ATP ranking heading into next week’s start of the first of the two North American Masters 1000 events in California, now stands 28-3 in Dubai.

He has won his last 18 ATP matches, dating to the November World Tour Finals in London when he went undefeated and beat Roger Federer in the final before starting 2013 with a record third successive Australian Open crown.

Djokovic last lost a match when he went out to Sam Querrey in the Paris Bercy first round on October 31. He completed his Dubai week without the loss of a set and stands 13-0 on the season.

Berdych has now his second final in as many weeks after going out to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last weekend in Marseille. He is the first Czech to play for the Dubia trophy since Jiri Novak in 2003.

Berdych dropped to 8-10 in career finals.  Djokovic surprisingly went down an early break in the opening set but got it back in the eighth game for 4-all and finished off the set victoriously 7-5 with another break.

The top seed began the second in strong fashion, challenged by

Berdych, who had put out Federer in a semi-final comeback 24 hours earlier. But Djokovic made his break for 5-3 and took the win a game later as he served it out.