By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 9, 2016
A commanding Novak Djokovic overwhelmed Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6- 2, in the Doha final to capture his 60th career title.
Photo credit: Qatar Tennis Federation
Late in the second set, curiosity compelled Novak Djokovic to finally take his eyes off the ball and take a look at the big picture.
The world No. 1 glanced up at the big screen to watch highlights of a flawless Qatar Open final he transformed into a star turn.
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A devastating Djokovic was so strong today, he reduced Rafael Nadal to spectator status dispensing a 6-1, 6-2, thrashing in the Doha final to capture his 60th career championship.
In a beautifully brutal 73-minute destruction, Djokovic not only defeated Nadal for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings to take a 24-23 lead in their rivalry, he barely looked stressed getting the job done.
It was the most lopsided result in their 47 encounters.
Djokovic, who served 75 percent, hit 30 winners and won 10 of 12 trips to net, has now reeled off 11 straight sets against Nadal since falling in the 2014 Roland Garros final.
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.
"I played very much perfect tennis today from the very beginning," Djokovic said. "I managed to hit every shot the way I imagined before the match. The way I played today gives me a great deal of confidence and satisfaction to play against Rafa for the trophy."
Contesting his 16th consecutive final, Djokovic won his 12th title since losing to Ivo Karlovic in the Doha quarterfinals last January.
Episode 47 of the most expansive rivalry in ATP history got off to a jolting start.
Djokovic saved a break point with a forehand crosscourt, working through a six-minute opener to hold with an ace. That was the last bit of trouble the top seed faced. He immediately opened a triple-break point lead in the next game.
Turning his shoulders into his shots, Djokovic spread the court effectively breaking serve as Nadal could not land his first serve. The top seed hit punishing shots into the corners, winning 10 of 12 points building a 3-0 lead.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion knew he needed to lift his level to stall the onslaught. He did exactly that whipping a wide ace and spinning a forehand down the line to confirm his first hold.
Staggering Nadal with successive forehand winners for break point, Djokovic drilled a low backhand winner crosscourt to break for 5-1. Thrusting a fist toward coach Boris Becker, Djokovic played with the precision of a man capable of delivering the knockout blow at will.
Banging an ace to close an immaculate set of shot-making, Djokovic delivered 16 winners against just four unforced errors blitzing through the opener in 31 minutes. Djokovic's winner output exceeded the total points Nadal won (13) in the first set. The second seed didn't strike the ball poorly in the set; a commanding Djokovic was timing the ball so cleanly, he denied Nadal opportunity to operate.
"I played against a player who is playing on a level that is difficult to imagine that someone can play that good," Nadal said of Djokovic. "So I just congratulate him for a great effort. I am here to fight again and I am going go keep working so hard to be ready for Australia and the rest of the season."
Djokovic's skill angling off the inside-out forehand and bolting his backhand down the line sometimes left one of the game's best defender's flat-footed. A fine half-volley that died in the front court followed by a Nadal forehand error gave Djokovic the break to start the second set.
Trying to rouse himself with a "Vamos!", Nadal wore the pained expression of a man powerless to press the pause button on the crescendo of drives arriving from all angles. Setting his feet for sweeping swings, Djokovic streaked through five straight games.
A puzzled Nadal couldn't find any answers, even indulging in an exchange with a particularly vocal fan.
"Do you want to be my coach?" Nadal asked the fan yelling advice in his direction during the second set.
After the match, Nadal showed a sense of humor addressing the fan directly and telling the crowd: "I found a new coach tonight. He is going to be travelling to Australia with me. I'm sure next time I'm gonna win against Novak with him."
A soft drop volley and twisting serve gave Nadal his second game, but Djokovic went right back to work. Drilling a forehand down the line, Djokovic swatted away a smash seizing a double-break advantage. He celebrated throwing an energized fist pump to appreciative fans.
On a night in which he dominated in all phases of the game, Djokovic even threw in the serve-and-volley uncoiling for a slick stretched drop volley holding for 5-1.
Djokovic has put his rival, and the rest of the world, in the rear-view mirror providing an astonishing view of the level he can produce.
"Every time we play against each other there's a lot at stake regardless of where we play," Djokovic said. "It's always a great challenge and both of us had to go through a lot of emotions before the match getting ready and kind of analyzing and preparing tactically with the team. These kind of matches and performances give me a great deal of satisfaction."