Djokovic Outclasses Federer To Grab Dubai Hat-Trick
Djokovic beat Federer for his third Dubai success
World No. 3 Novak Djokovic has claimed his third straight Dubai title after beating main favorite Roger Federer in straight sets to claim his second title of the season.
Djokovic’s perfect start allowed the Serbian break the Dubai four-time winner Federer early in the third game to go 3-1 and even 5-3 at one point. Finally, the opener found the same great-spahed Dkjokovic grabbing the second break of the game to claim the first set to three.
Swiss’s poor showing would continue throughout the entire second set. Djokovic conceded his first service in the third game of the second set. Federer made it 2-1 to give some real life signs. He went even 3-1 after winning his serves easily, but the unexpected was yet to come.
Djokovic’s struggling brought him the first break of the second set to make it 3-3 and serve for 4-3. He would also take the one-game lead afterwards. The end of the set found the Swiss struggling for one more break but once again, it was the Serbian who claimed the second straight break to make things look clear as crystal.
Djokovic went 5-3 thanks to a love-game. The 83 serve-win percentage helped the Australian Open champion beat Federer for the second time this year and clinch his hat-trick in the Middle East, his third in a row.
Said Djokovic: “Any time I win against Roger it’s a great success because he’s such a great player. We all know how mentally strong of a player he is. To be able to win against Roger in straight sets as I did tonight is incredible, but I want to keep on going.”
On the other side, Federer admitted Djokovic’s win and claimed that although the many still expect him to win dozens of titles, he simply cannot win everything every-time. He looked pleased with what he has achieved though. Federer arrived in Dubai hoping he would grab his fifth Middle East title.
Djokovic has had plenty of luck en route to the final. His semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych was forced to pull over due to injury. The Czech abandoned the game after claiming the opener 7-6. He would leave the court at 7-6, 6-2, 4-2 to Djokovic. Apart from this, the 23-year-old has grabbed crucial wins over Michael Llodra and Feliciano Lopez. Djokovic ousted the French 6-3, 6-3 in the opener and edged the Spaniard in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Concerning Federer’s road to the final, the Swiss had beaten Richard Gasquet in the semis in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. His first rounds included easy wins over Indian Somdev Devvarman, whom the Swiss defeated 6-3, 6-3. The second round found him sending Marcel Granollers of Spain home after another two-set victory, while the quarter final brought him a similar victory over Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
