ABU DHABI (AFP) ― Novak Djokovic saw off David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 in the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Saturday and wasted no time looking forward to the season ahead with his new coach Boris Becker.
The world No. 2 was just too strong for the Spanish world No. 3 and stormed to victory in the exhibition title for the third time in a row.
It was also his fifth straight title since losing the U.S. Open final to Rafael Nadal ― and nothing looks likely to stop him going into next month’s Australian Open, where he is aiming for a fourth consecutive title.
He also has his sights set on wresting back the world No. 1 slot from Nadal.
The 26-year-old Serbian hired former Wimbledon champion Becker to improve his game after a disappointing 2013 by his own high standards.
Becker has said he will spend around 20 weeks per year on the ATP Tour with Djokovic and says his young son Amadeus and wife Lilly will join him on occasion.
With Becker courtside, Djokovic overcame an early deficit and said: “I have to say I’m really glad to have Boris on the team.
“It’s great that it started with winning this trophy right here. Hopefully, we can win more.”
Asked what he expected Becker to bring to the table, Djokovic laughed.
“We’ll see, ask me in half a year,” he was quoted as saying by The National.
“It’s still too early to say where he is going to take us.”
Including Davis Cup matches and two unofficial wins in Abu Dhabi, Djokovic has won 26 matches in a row since losing to Nadal in the U.S. Open final.
Djokovic went into the final with an 11-5 record against Ferrer. Including previous wins in this competition against the Spaniard, which do not count on official statistics, he has now beaten Ferrer eight times in a row.
Ferrer admitted he hadn’t done enough to upset the odds.
“With Nole (Djokovic), I need to do more,” he said.
In the day’s other match, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-3 to take third place.
Having played Nadal, Djokovic and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the tournament this week, Tsonga was asked who had impressed him the most.
“I would say Novak, he’s impressive,” replied the world No. 10.
Ahead of next month’s Australian Open, the rest have been warned.
The world No. 2 was just too strong for the Spanish world No. 3 and stormed to victory in the exhibition title for the third time in a row.
It was also his fifth straight title since losing the U.S. Open final to Rafael Nadal ― and nothing looks likely to stop him going into next month’s Australian Open, where he is aiming for a fourth consecutive title.
He also has his sights set on wresting back the world No. 1 slot from Nadal.
The 26-year-old Serbian hired former Wimbledon champion Becker to improve his game after a disappointing 2013 by his own high standards.
Becker has said he will spend around 20 weeks per year on the ATP Tour with Djokovic and says his young son Amadeus and wife Lilly will join him on occasion.
With Becker courtside, Djokovic overcame an early deficit and said: “I have to say I’m really glad to have Boris on the team.
“It’s great that it started with winning this trophy right here. Hopefully, we can win more.”
Asked what he expected Becker to bring to the table, Djokovic laughed.
“We’ll see, ask me in half a year,” he was quoted as saying by The National.
“It’s still too early to say where he is going to take us.”
Including Davis Cup matches and two unofficial wins in Abu Dhabi, Djokovic has won 26 matches in a row since losing to Nadal in the U.S. Open final.
Djokovic went into the final with an 11-5 record against Ferrer. Including previous wins in this competition against the Spaniard, which do not count on official statistics, he has now beaten Ferrer eight times in a row.
Ferrer admitted he hadn’t done enough to upset the odds.
“With Nole (Djokovic), I need to do more,” he said.
In the day’s other match, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-3 to take third place.
Having played Nadal, Djokovic and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the tournament this week, Tsonga was asked who had impressed him the most.
“I would say Novak, he’s impressive,” replied the world No. 10.
Ahead of next month’s Australian Open, the rest have been warned.
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Articles by Korea Herald