Djokovic to meet Nadal in Qatar final

Nadal got on the board in the next game but looked powerless to do anything about Djokovic’s serve, which the Serb used to devastating effect. It was clear from the outset that it would be a lengthy affair and although Nadal started the better, it was his nemesis who managed to grab the lead by battling back and winning the third.

‘It’d mean a lot because of how may times I’ve been close.

“I have been struggling a little bit”.

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

“I’m ready for the competition”, Djokovic said. Holder Petra Kvitova and second seed Agnieszka Radwanska are the latest stars to have troubled buildups to the Australian Open after pulling out of the Sydney International.

This event marked the only occasion on which the Serb failed to reach a final in 2015, but lightning has not struck twice in Doha.

Agnieszka Radwanska scored a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory over Alison Riske of the United States to win the Shenzhen (China) Open.

Any hope of a typical comeback from Nadal was fully extinguished in the fifth game when Djokovic broke a second time to go 4-1 ahead. Rafael had some troubles playing Illya Marchenko in his last game, but what matters it he won.

Djokovic needed just 31 minutes to breeze through the first set, in the clash of the top two seeds in Doha. According to him, Djokovic is “the best put-together player” he has seen over 60 years, with no “weakness” or “downfall”.

Of course, there were a few comic moments too when a spectator shouted, “Change your coach, Rafa!” I know him. I know his character and what a fighter and a hard worker he is. “He’s in the final, so that’s already proof that he’s been playing well”. Nadal has not won a set in their last four matches, even at his former strongholds, Roland Garros and Monte Carlo.

Djokovic saved a break point with a forehand crosscourt, working through a six-minute opener to hold with an ace.

A bruised and battered Rafael Nadal admitted Novak Djokovic was playing at a level never seen before after suffering a 6-1, 6-2 mauling in the ExxonMobil Qatar Open final on Saturday. “For sure is important for my confidence”.

Rarely can the current world number five have been beaten so easily and he cut a forlorn figure after the match as he waited for the presentation ceremony. “So everything is all positive”.