Dubai: Roger Federer picked up a record seventh title here with a 6-3, 7-5 win over world number one Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open in front of a capacity crowd at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Saturday.
Appearing in his 126th career final on the ATP World Tour, Federer took his titles tally to 84 and stand at No.3 on the Open Era titles list behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Ivan Lendl (94). The Swiss star sent down eleven aces during his 83 minutes on court to cross the mark of 9,000 aces in his career on the Tour. Federer now joins the elite league of ace kings Goran Ivanisevic (10,183), Ivo Karlovic (9,375) and Andy Roddick (9,074).
Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Director General, Dubai Information Department and President, Tennis Emirates presented the glittering dhow trophy to Federer in the presence of Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free, Shaikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Chairman, Asian Tennis Federation, Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Vice President, Tennis Emirates, Tournament Director Salah Tahlak and George Horan, President, Dubai Duty Free.
Saturday was the 37th meeting between Djokovic and Federer with the Swiss player going in with a 19-17 advantage. The last time the two met was at the Shanghai Rolex Masters semi-finals in October last year that Federer went on to win 6-3, 6-3.
Saturday’s final was also a re-match of last year’s semi-final here that was once again won by Federer after which he went on to beat Tomas Berdych. It was also the second time in Dubai that the top two players were playing in the final. In 2011, Djokovic had defeated the Swiss master to bag his fourth crown in Dubai.
“I think I did everything well tonight. I served well and returned well and that gives me a lot of satisfaction,” Federer told the crowd on centre court.
“A seventh title in Dubai is exactly what made me come here again and again. It’s been an incredible week and I’ve managed to play some incredible tennis to make this title happen,” he added.
The 33-year-old Swiss was appearing in his ninth final in his 12 tournament visits to Dubai. The Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open was also Federer’s first tournament since his shock third round exit from the Australian Open against Italian Andreas Seppi.
Federer was elegant at the same time pin-perfect with the execution of his game. He broke in the eighth to go clear 5-3 and then served out the first set 6-3 in 36 minutes. In the second set, the Swiss ace remained in control throughout giving Djokovic very little chance to dominate. In the eleventh game, the Serbian committed a suicidal double fault, and that was just enough for Federer to break for only the second time on the night and serve out set and match 7-5.
