I Don’t Feel I’m Invincible, Says Novak Djokovic

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.

The world number one cruised to victory in a match lasting just one hour 13 minutes, capturing his 60th career title and starting 2016 with the same dominance he showed past year when he won three of the four majors and 11 titles in all.

He will face Nadal on Sunday after the Spaniard reached his 99th ATP final by overcoming Illya Marchenko. Djokovic broke in the first game and held easily for 2-0. “Obviously easier said than done but the way I played today gives me confidence and satisfaction playing against Rafa, a great feeling”.

By now, Djokovic was already up to 22 winners to Nadal’s nine, and had made only eight unforced errors. Djokovic closed out the opening set to love after 31 minutes, firing 16 winners and four aces. Djokovic hasn’t lost a tournament since last August.

“I played pretty much flawless tennis today”.

Nevertheless, the 14-time Grand Slam champion wouldn’t predict when he’d win another Grand Slam title. With Nadal having yet to win on grass and Djokovic holding little experience on the surface, there were still some doubts about their ability on the green stuff.

Playing to a high level and trading well from the back of the court, Djokovic came from a break down in the second set and actually served for it before Nadal closed out to claim the title.

Nadal’s serve dominated throughout against a player who had knocked out the reigning champion and number four seed David Ferrer in round one.

“I really thought I hit the ball very well”, the evergreen 34-year-old, lathered in sweat from the muggy Brisbane heat, said in a courtside interview. The Serb was forced to save break point after Nadal had produced a series of sumptuous forehands that were unsettling the Serb, but Djokovic, whose exertions in Qatar this week have been characterised by laborious starts, held firm to to take the first game.

Rafael Nadal is off to a strong start this year and the Spaniard will look to extend his winning run, when he collides with Ilya Marchenko of Ukraine in the semifinal of the 2016 Qatar Open in Doha. He has now won the past five matches against Nadal.

“Not ideal, obviously. But I did a few good things, and I’m happy with the victory, being in the first final of the season”, said a coy Nadal.