BEIJING: World number one Novak Djokovic crushed Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-2 yesterday to win the China Open and maintain a remarkable 100 percent record in the Beijing tournament.
Meanwhile, French Open champion Maria Sharapova was forced to battle hard to overcome Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the women’s final -- a victory which moves her into second place in the rankings.
Serb Djokovic was 5-0 ahead in the second set, one game from serving up an incredible “double bagel” as he tore through his Czech opponent with a brilliant serving display.
As he was staring at an embarrassing defeat, a stunned Berdych laughed as he pretended to hand his racket to a ball-girl, suggesting that she may be able to take on his opponent.
But the world number six rallied briefly to take Djokovic’s serve and then take the scores to a more respectable 5-2, before the reigning champion sealed his fifth title in Beijing, an event he has won the five times he has entered.
“Beijing is definitely my lucky place, I enjoy coming here,” Djokovic said to the crowd after his stunning victory over the third seed.
In the women’s final, it was a gritty performance from current world number four Sharapova, who handed Kvitova her first loss in nine games. The fourth seed Russian appeared to have carried into the match the determination she showed in her powerful 6-0, 6-4 semi-final defeat of Serbian world number nine Ana Ivanovic.
“After exchanging breaks in the first set, I was happy. I felt like I stepped it up,” Sharapova said.
“I started returning quite well, reading her serve a little bit. She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her be that way, let her play that way.” AFP
TOKYO: Kei Nishikori won the Japan Open title for the second time in three years yesterday, collapsing in joy on the court as he defeated Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4.
The surprise US Open finalist, who also claimed the Kuala Lumpur trophy a week ago, was in tears as he hugged his tennis star-turned-coach Michael Chang.
The victory in just over two hours sends Nishikori to fifth in the points race for November’s ATP season final in London while Canadian Raonic holds onto the eighth and final spot.
“I hope to get to London. I am getting close, but there are two more Masters 1000s and 500s left,” said Nishikori. “These next few weeks will be really important for me.
“Michael has raised my level. We have practised more on the court and also physical work. Beating a few Top 10 guys over the past year has helped my confidence.”
Nishikori won the opening set in three-quarters of an hour and was broken in the seventh game of the second set as Raonic levelled a set each.
The local crowd-pleaser finally came though with his concluding break to earn the title. The match was played under the closed roof of the Ariake Colosseum as rains from an approaching typhoon fell.
Nishikori has now beaten Raonic in three of four meetings this season, including at the US Open. The runner-up fired 22 aces and lost serve only once, in the final game of a long afternoon.
Nishikori added a fourth title to his 2014 honours list after also winning Memphis and Barcelona before Kuala Lumpur. He stands 49-10 this season. “It’s the first time I have won a title two weeks in a row. After the US Open, it was hard to maintain my motivation. I had to stay strong and focused, especially this week when I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent.”
The title came in front on Nishikori’s home public during a 10,000-strong sellout and left Raonic wondering what he might have to do to win in the Japanese capital.
The Canadian has now lost the last three finals in the capital, going down to Juan Martin del Potro a year ago and to Nishikori in 2012. AFP
