Djokovic wins three in a row in pulsating Dubai final against Federer

Dubai: Novak Djokovic became only the second man to win three consecutive titles in Dubai when he tamed former four-time winner and world number two Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 in a pulsating final of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open last night.

Down 1-3 in the second set, Djokovic showed enough indication why he is among the favourites to be right at the top in the men's game when he won the next five games to take his third crown in as many years.

"I keep playing well here and that is so satisfying," Djokovic told the packed stadium after winning in an hour and 11 minutes.

"This is one of the better matches that I have played in a while. I had to be on the top of my game. I have had a good preparation and I am feeling good on the court and hopefully I can continue this momentum," Djokovic hoped.

Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Director General, Dubai Department of Information and Presidentof Tennis Emirates, presented the trophies joined by Shaikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, President, Arab Tennis Federation; Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Vice-President, Tennis Emirates; Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director Salah Tahlak. Among the distinguished list of guests was former English footballer and Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp.

Djokovic struck the first blow early breaking Federer in the third and then held to go 3-1 up. Federer suffered a bit of unease in the fifth as well, but he just hung in there to hold. The two-time reigning champion did not have to do much but just hang in there to record a second break in the ninth for the set 6-3.

Appearing in his 96th ATP World Tour level final, Federer was the first to make a move when he broke his Serbian opponent in the third and then played a really sloppy game to be broken back by Djokovic, who then held to go 4-3 up.

And just when the packed stadium expected the Swiss ace to fight back, Djokovic broke yet again for 5-3 and then served out for set and match 6-3 to ironically join Federer as the winner of three successive singles titles in the 19-year history of the Dubai tournament.

This was the 20th men's singles title for Djokovic from 33 final appearances, for which he also picked up the winner's prize purse of $386,000 (Dh1.41 million) and 500 ATP South African Airways ATP Ranking Points, while as the runner-up Federer took away $181,500 and 300 points.

This was the third time in the history of this tournament that the top seeds have met in the final. In 2006, second seed Rafael Nadal overcame a one-set deficit to beat Federer in three sets, while in 1997, No. 2 Thomas Muster had defeated big-serving Goran Ivanisevic for the title.

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