ABU DHABI // Novak Djokovic did not wait for 2012 to begin before demonstrating he already is in mid-season form. The world No 1 thrashed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-1 tonight to win the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at the International Tennis Complex.
Djokovic joins Andy Murray and two-time champion Rafael Nadal as winners of the exhibition event in the UAE capital, and takes home the US$250,000 winner's prize.
The Serb was in command of all of his shots, showing excellent depth on his ground strokes, coming to the net with great timing and finesse, and serving with speed and accuracy. The match ended on consecutive aces by Djokovic, who ran off 41 consecutive victories to begin the 2011 season and finished it with 11 championship, including three in slam events.
Ferrer, ranked No 5 in the world, had ousted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a three-set quarter-final and overwhelmed Nadal 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals, prompting Nadal to say of his compatriot, "He's playing the best tennis of his life." But Ferrer's ground strokes and bulldog tenacity were not nearly enough to keep him in the match with Djokiovic, who had overwhelmed Roger Federer 6-2, 6-1 in the semi-finals.
"It was difficult," Ferrer said. "I know why Djokovic is no 1 of the world. he plays really good game, and he was better than me. I made the semi-finals the first time I was here and the final this year, and maybe I come back next year and win."
Said Djokovic: "It's been a fantastic experience the last couple of days. I had a great prepartion here in Abu Dhabi. Everyone was very kind, and the crowd makes this tournament even better. We had a lot of fun and I hope [the spectators] did, too."
Asked if he could repeat his 2011 successes, Djokovic said: "I think, yes. I think nothing is impossible, if you believe. I think the crucial couple of weeks is now, for me to prepare for Australia. We'lll see. It's a long year and a difficult task, but I'm looking forward to it."
Earlier, Nadal defeated Federer 6-1, 7-5 in the third-place match.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer renewed their famous rivalry today, but instead of battling at Roland Garros or Centre Court they found themselves in the third-place match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
It was Nadal who salvaged a victory from his weekend in Abu Dhabi, quashing a Federer second-set surge to record a 6-1, 7-5 victory at the International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City.
The largest crowd to see a match so far in this tournament cheered loudly as the veteran campaigners traded shots. The two met in the final of this event a year ago, with Nadal winning his second consecutive title with a 7-6, 7-6 victory.
"No better place to prepare for the season than here," Nadal said. "A great stadium and great weather. I haven't had a lot of time to prepare for the season, so these matches are important. Next week in Doha will be another week of preparation."
Federer, 30, had won only four games from three sets here before his second-set recovery, and he declared himself content with the results, if not happy about them.
"I struggled throughout the weekend because I played some really good players," he said. "A great field."
On Friday, he was routed 6-2, 6-1 by the world No 1 Novak Djokovic.
Both Nadal and Federer move to Qatar now to play at Doha in the opening week of the ATP season.
