Djokovic proves point with win

Novak Djokovic retained his title in London
12 November 2013

It may have been Rafael Nadal's season but Novak Djokovic proved a point to himself and all his rivals by finishing the year on a remarkable high.

When Nadal defeated Djokovic to win the US Open in September, it was the latest crushing disappointment for the Serbian on the biggest stage.

Djokovic had lost an epic five-setter to Nadal in the semi-finals of the French Open, the tournament he wants to win more than any other, then been beaten by Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final before another final defeat in New York.

It made defending his world number one ranking from Nadal all but impossible in the face of the Spaniard's extraordinary comeback from injury.

But since the US Open, Djokovic has won 22 matches in a row, the latest of them a convincing 6-3 6-4 victory over Nadal to retain his Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title.

Djokovic has won 10 straight matches at London's O2 Arena, and he will surely go into the Australian Open, which he has won for the last three years, as very much the man to beat.

Djokovic still has the Davis Cup final to come against the Czech Republic next weekend, but he is already halfway to bettering the 43-match unbeaten run he went on at the start of 2011.

The 26-year-old said: "The most positive thing that I can take from this two and a half months is the fact that I managed to regroup after a few big losses.

"I think I've worked on a few things in my game and serve that has helped me win a lot of matches in the last two months.

"This is definitely the best possible way that I can finish the season, not including the Davis Cup final that I have in a few days' time, where of course I hope we can bring another title to our country.

"This can serve as a great platform for the 2014 season. I'm extra motivated and inspired to work and get myself, first of all, rested and recovered in the off-season, and then work on my game and get ready for the Australian Open."

The showpiece to another hugely successful week by the banks of the Thames was the 39th meeting between Nadal and Djokovic - more than any other two men in the Open era.

Nadal's two grand slam titles and 10 trophies overall meant nothing could sour his season, although he was competing for the one major title he has not yet won.

The indoor surface certainly favoured Djokovic and he set about proving that, going on the offensive and opening up a 3-0 lead.

It could even have been 4-0 but after he missed a break point Djokovic seemed to tighten, some wild shots giving Nadal the break back.

Double faults were the Spaniard's Achilles heel in the first set, though, and two more put him in trouble in the eighth game.

The point that gave Djokovic a 5-3 advantage was undoubtedly the best and most important of the match, the Serbian somehow scrambling a lob off what looked a winning Nadal volley and then clinching the break at the net.

Djokovic roared, and he wrapped up the set at the first opportunity with an ace.

Once the second seed moved ahead in the third game of the second set, the writing was on the wall, and although Nadal saved two match points he placed a forehand just wide on the third.

The world number one felt it was only his serve that let him down, saying: "I think the level of tennis was similar. The level of serve was not similar.

"On this kind of court, the first shot is very important, and he did that first shot much better than me.

"I felt that I was playing well enough to be a little bit closer than the score. But at the end I lost 6-3 6-4 because the opponent played better than me."

It was Nadal's second final at the O2 after he also lost to Roger Federer three years ago.

"I think it's not going to change my career, winning or losing today," he said.

"I will not be a better player, talking about the history with or without that match. That's my feeling.

"The only thing that I can say is to congratulate the opponent and at the same time congratulate all my team because all the achievements, all the success that I had this year, without them it's impossible.

"It's very special what happened this year. For me, the emotions of this year after a tough year for all of us have been fantastic."

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