Nadal to face Djokovic in Qatar ExxonMobil final

World No. 1 Djokovic progressed through to Saturday’s final after overcoming Tomas Berdych in a bruising encounter, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

This was Djokovic’s most convincing victory against Nadal in their 47 meetings, a head-to-head he leads for the first time.

After being crushed by Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2 in the Qatar Open final in Doha on Saturday, Rafael Nadal admired the Serb’s handiwork.

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

And if most critics picked Djokovic to win the title, few probably expected such a one-sided contest as this became, particularly after the Serb admitted in press that he had a slight problem in his serving arm.

It was a commanding performance that will infuse the world No. 1 with confidence when he plays for his sixth Australian Open title later this month.

“He’s in his prime and I think that he can stay at the top of the game for another five or six years”, Tim Henman, the former British No 1, told the Belfast Telegraph last summer. With great effort, Nadal retained his serve, but could do little when Djokovic served in the last game of the evening.

Federer stopped Raonic in three sets in Brisbane in the final a year ago.

“The way I played today gives me great satisfaction”. 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.

“My number one goal is to try and win here”, said Murray, who also lost a fourth Melbourne Park final to Roger Federer in 2010.

However, he held his serve and then won the next four games in typical fashion to take the first set.

After suffering his worst career loss to Novak Djokovic yesterday in the Doha final, Rafael Nadal was looking at the positive.

So there is still a long way to go for Djokovic before he comes anywhere near Federer on that list.

Staggering Nadal with successive forehand winners for break point, Djokovic drilled a low backhand victor crosscourt to break for 5-1.

Djokovic though was relentless in the tie-break, breaking Berdych’s first serve and ended up winning the decider 7/3. The Serbian player has enjoyed his one of the best years in his career. How can I go against Djokovic?

Djokovic has certainly played his way into a discussion with those other legends, and his dominance at Australia makes him an overwhelming favorite when things begin on January 18.