Novak Djokovic clinches first Qatar Tennis Open title

epa05091859 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their quarter final match at the Qatar ATP Open tennis tournament at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, 07 January 2016. Djokovic looked tired and needed treatment on a back problem but just when you thought an epic Nadal comeback was very much on the cards, Djokovic rediscovered his form and instead it was the Spaniard who fell away in the fourth set as his opponent wrapped up victory after four hours and 10 minutes of majestic tennis.

The final set was also unpredictable, with number two seed Nadal again squandering a break advantage before decisively taking the Russian’s serve in the ninth game.

Tomic ended 2014 U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori’s streak of three straight semifinal appearances at Brisbane with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win.

Saturday’s match will reignite one of the greatest rivalries in modern tennis.

“I am fairly pleased with how I played in Perth”, Murray said. I fully expect him to win many more titles and I think that he will start by winning this one. Obviously knowing that I can play a match makes me feel relieved a bit, but it’s a little issue that has been there for most of this week.

“It gives me a great deal of confidence for the rest of the season”, Djokovic told reporters after his Qatar victory. However, both Murray and Federer are capable of beating anybody on their day and if all three players perform at their very best, tennis fans across the globe are set for a real treat.

The Serbian now holds a 24-23 lead over Nadal in the head-to-head meetings between the pair and after the match he admitted that he had put in a near flawless performance during the final.

Banging an ace to close an immaculate set of shot-making, Djokovic delivered 16 winners against just four unforced errors blitzing through the opener in 31 minutes.

World number one Djokovic progressed through to Saturday’s final after overcoming Tomas Berdych in a bruising encounter, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). “My grandfather used to call me falcon and the trophy will remind me of him”, he added.

He hit 30 winners, forced seven break points and faced only one himself, which, predictably, he saved. “It’s obvious. I am going to wait for my moment”.

Referring to the Spaniard’s recent improved play after struggling throughout most of 2015, when his ranking fell to as low as No. 10, Djokovic said he was not surprised that his longtime rival had turned things around.

Rarely can the current world number five have been beaten so easily, although he tried to remain upbeat, saying he had made “a positive start to the season”.