Djokovic, Nadal to meet for 47th time in Qatar Open final

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were yesterday preparing to meet for the 47th time and play their 24th final against each other after both won their Qatar Open semi-finals on Friday.

A commanding Novak Djokovic overwhelmed Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6- 2, in the Doha final to capture his 60th career title.

The Serb, also 28, holds three of the four Grand Slam titles, having won Wimbledon and the US Open in addition to the Australian Open. As well as going down an early break in the first set, he then required a second-set tiebreak to get past world No. 6 Tomas Berdych in straight sets.

“That’s where I’m hoping I can continue this run and this great level of performance”, he added.

Djokovic continued to apply pressure on Nadal from the baseline with a display of aggression. I do, however, think that Nadal is an improved player and will seriously contend for multiple Grand Slam titles this season.

“I’m not going to tell you too much, but it was tough in a way”, Federer said of his illness.

Djokovic won a first prize of $201,165 while Nadal, playing in his 99th final, took home $105,940. Nadal held his serve in the fourth game, and that is all he would get in the opening set as Djokovic broke again in the sixth game, before closing out the set. He wrapped up the match after 73 minutes, striking a total 30 winners to just 13 unforced errors.

“I am fairly pleased with how I played in Perth”, Murray said.

The last time the Serb failed to reach a tournament final was when he lost in the quarter-finals in last year’s Qatar Open. “Fortunately I played a great third set, with a lot of intensity”. He faced-and saved-only one break point while serving at 70 percent and finishing with six aces and no double-faults.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets. The more focused man broke in the 16th game of the set to end yet another classic between the duo.

“I won the gold in London four years ago so to try to defend that is another big goal for me”.

The current world No. 5 revealed after winning the Mubadala exhibition tournament last week that he has had to retune his mental strength – to a level that would be seriously tested by Djokovic’s resolve on Saturday.

“But it’s lovely. It’s a new chapter of my life, and I enjoy it. I was actually saying already in the last 12 months or so how that has positively reflected on my tennis and my mindset, and actually finding the meaning and the objective to whatever I’m doing”.