Djoker reigns supreme
8 Oct 2012 2:17 AM GMT
Ranked second in the world, Novak Djokovic of Serbia captured his third China Open title after edging out Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final on Sunday. Djokovic’s earlier triumphs here came in 2009 and 2010. The 25-year-old took one hour and 45 minutes to claim a 7-6[4], 6-2 victory.
‘I am planning to come back to the China Open next year. It has been one of my most successful tournaments. This is where I love to play. I love the conditions and, as I mentioned before, I have lots of support from the fans who are very loyal and very nice,’ Djokovic was quoted as saying by the ATP website.
The opening set was very close, with Tsonga good at serving and registering seven aces while Djokovic looking more tactical. After exchanging breaks in the fifth and sixth games, both players held serve until the set was forced into a tiebreak. In the deciding tiebreak, Djokovic stormed to a 3-0 lead, and Tsonga stayed calm and pulled within 4-3. After that, Tsonga was inconsistent and made a couple of deadly unforced errors before Djokovic took the first set at 7-4. With one set in hand, Djokovic started to call the shots in the second set while Tsonga, despite powering out nine more aces, found it hard to hold serve. After breaking in the third and fifth games, Djokovic never looked back.
Earlier, American Mike Bryan overtook Australian Todd Woodbridge’s mark of 83 career doubles titles when he, alongside brother Bob, beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-2 for their third title here in four years.
NISHIKORI WINS AT HOME
Kei Nishikori became Japan Open’s first home champion on Sunday with a gritty three-set win over big-serving Milos Raonic. The eighth seed took the first set 7-6 before dropping the second 3-6 but running away with the decider 6-0, sending the home crowd into raptures with his second career title.
‘On one side of my mind, I cannot believe I won the tournament, but at the same time, I feel that I am happy I was able to do this. I have not been able to play well in Japan until now, so I always thought perhaps I was not mentally strong enough to do so,’ said 22-year-old Nishikori, who will rise two places to 15th in world rankings replacing 21-year-old Raonic, who had upset US Open champion Andy Murray in the semifinal.
‘I am planning to come back to the China Open next year. It has been one of my most successful tournaments. This is where I love to play. I love the conditions and, as I mentioned before, I have lots of support from the fans who are very loyal and very nice,’ Djokovic was quoted as saying by the ATP website.
The opening set was very close, with Tsonga good at serving and registering seven aces while Djokovic looking more tactical. After exchanging breaks in the fifth and sixth games, both players held serve until the set was forced into a tiebreak. In the deciding tiebreak, Djokovic stormed to a 3-0 lead, and Tsonga stayed calm and pulled within 4-3. After that, Tsonga was inconsistent and made a couple of deadly unforced errors before Djokovic took the first set at 7-4. With one set in hand, Djokovic started to call the shots in the second set while Tsonga, despite powering out nine more aces, found it hard to hold serve. After breaking in the third and fifth games, Djokovic never looked back.
Earlier, American Mike Bryan overtook Australian Todd Woodbridge’s mark of 83 career doubles titles when he, alongside brother Bob, beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-2 for their third title here in four years.
NISHIKORI WINS AT HOME
Kei Nishikori became Japan Open’s first home champion on Sunday with a gritty three-set win over big-serving Milos Raonic. The eighth seed took the first set 7-6 before dropping the second 3-6 but running away with the decider 6-0, sending the home crowd into raptures with his second career title.
‘On one side of my mind, I cannot believe I won the tournament, but at the same time, I feel that I am happy I was able to do this. I have not been able to play well in Japan until now, so I always thought perhaps I was not mentally strong enough to do so,’ said 22-year-old Nishikori, who will rise two places to 15th in world rankings replacing 21-year-old Raonic, who had upset US Open champion Andy Murray in the semifinal.
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