Djokovic dismantles Nadal in Qatar Open final

A dejected Djokovic, whose defeat meant he remained without a win against Nadal in nine claycourt meetings, summed things up with his post-match comment: “It’s very disappointing to play as well as I have and still lose the match”. Last year, Novak Djokovic was crowned as the champion and the Serbian will be one of the leading candidates to repeat his success.

2015 was the year for celebrations to Djokovic while it was a year to forget about for Nadal as he failed to win a single grand slam because of his injuries which didn’t let him past it. However, as the last year approached its end, the Spaniard looks like returning to his form.

Stan Wawrinka will play for a third successive Chennai (India) Open title against Borna Coric, the youngest finalist on the ATP Tour in eight years.

“To be back in a final is always a great feeling, especially the first week of the season”, the Spaniard said.

World number one Djokovic progressed through to Saturday’s final after overcoming Tomas Berdych in a bruising encounter, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

Episode 47 of the most expansive rivalry in ATP history got off to a jolting start.

Former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio present Djokovic with the winner’s trophy. That was the last bit of trouble the top seed faced.

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.

A year ago, he lost in the quarter-finals to Ivo Karlovic, and has not fallen short of a final since, claiming 11 titles from 15 finals-with all but one 500 title being at Masters or Grand Slam level. He did exactly that whipping a wide ace and spinning a forehand down the line to confirm his first hold. Djokovic is, unfortunately for Nadal, still the man to beat.

Nadal, though, wobbled in his opening service game, allowing the Serb’s sumptuous dropshot at 0-30 to foreshadow the remainder of the set.

And Djokovic acknowledged he had operated at the peak of his powers.

“I played against a player who did everything ideal”, Nadal said. Any shot I did just felt so comfortable. “For my side, I am happy the way I am working and I am going to keep working hard”.

Djokovic’s skill angling off the inside-out forehand and bolting his backhand down the line sometimes left one of the game’s best defender’s flat-footed.

With the first set gone, Nadal had been pushed to the wall, psychologically at least, for his grunts were getting louder and louder with each passing second.