Djokovic blunts Cilic from the baseline to win China Open

Beijing (AFP) Novak Djokovic captured his third ATP title of the year at the China Open yesterday, outlasting giant-killer Marin Cilic of Croatia in a blistering baseline battle, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).

The Serbian second seed took advantage of a 90-minute rain delay, which came at 2-2 in the first set, coming back on centre court at the Beijing Olympics tennis venue with sharper ground strokes and well-placed serves.

The big-hitting Cilic — who beat fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko and top seed Rafael Nadal en route to the final — kept up a barrage of huge shots from the back of the court but Djokovic mixed up the pace to throw him off, forcing errors.

Element of luck

After holding serve to go up 3-2, Djokovic broke Cilic straight away and then a second time to take the opening set, with the 21-year-old Croatian the victim of two unlucky net cords in the final game.

In the second, Cilic — a wild card entry here — and the 22-year-old Serb traded breaks three times to force a tie-break, with the Croatian failing to serve out the set twice.

Djokovic took control midway, winning a rally that left Cilic sitting on the court to go up 4-2. The Serb closed it out on his second match point when the Croatian sent an inside-out forehand sailing wide.

Djokovic, by reaching the final, is assured of taking over the world number three ranking on October 19, surpassing injured Scot Andy Murray. He has already qualified for the season-ending championship in London in November.

Both men will head straight to Shanghai for the next leg of the ATP Tour's swing through Asia.

Also yesterday, American twins Bob and Mike Bryan won the men's doubles final, defeating Andy Roddick and doubles specialist Mark Knowles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, for their sixth title of the year.

China's Peng Shuai and Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei won the women's doubles title late on Saturday, beating Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova, 6-3, 6-1.

Meanwhile, China's unfancied Zeng Shao Xuan sprang the first surprise of the new Shanghai Masters yesterday, with the number 396 winning the first ATP-level match of his life to reach the second round. The underdog put out Israeli Davis Cup player Dudi Sela, holding his nerve in the final set to take a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.

Results

(x denotes seeding):

Men's singles

Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x8) 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)

Men's doubles

Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA x2) bt Mark Knowles/Andy Roddick (BAH/USA) 6-4, 6-2

Women's doubles

Peng Shuai/Hsieh Su-wei (CHN/TPE x5) bt Alla Kudryavtseva/Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-3, 6-1