World Number 1 Novak Djokovic will face six-time champion Roger Federer in the blockbuster final tomorrow evening to claim the ATP 500 Dubai trophy. It’s the final the tournament directors dreamed of when the competition started on Monday and will be contested between two former champions and top two players in the world.
Roger Federer recorded his tenth win of the season as he brushed aside talented youngster Borna Coric of Croatia in just 56 minutes. Lucky Loser Coric caused the biggest upset of the tournament yesterday when he defeated the World Number 3, Andy Murray. Last year the Croatian recorded his biggest win by defeating Rafael Nadal, but the Swiss Maestro had too much class today for the youngster as he was denied adding another big scalp to his list.
In the first set, Federer opened up a 3-1 lead when Coric, fifteen years Federer’s junior, managed to convert a solitary break, however the experience and class of the six-time champion shone through to win 6-2, 6-1. The 33 year old dominated the match, needing only 27 minutes to claim the first set. The Swiss player also hit three aces past Coric and is now only five aces away from hitting the 9,000th ace of his career, something which may prove tough to accomplish tomorrow against Djokovic: one of the best returners in the world. Federer also managed to hit twenty winners and won nine of his thirteen points at the net; a good set of statistics to take into his match tomorrow against the World Number 1.
Unlike Federer, Djokovic’s match proved a tougher test; the Serbian battled past big serving Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic to win 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 in a match lasting just over two hours. It was Djokovic’s eighth straight Dubai semi-final and the World Number 1 got off to the perfect start, requiring only 23 minutes, hitting twelve winners and losing of only eight points to claim the first set 6-0.
After getting out to an early lead gaining a break advantage at the start of the second set Djokovic seemed to lose concentration, allowing Berdych back into the match. Berdych managed to cut down his unforced errors count, which cost him dear in the first set, and after trading a succession of breaks the Czech finally capitalized on his second set point to take it 7-5.
At two-all going into the decider, the Serb made his move. Some crushing play and unparalleled athleticism allowed him to set up three break point chances. The Czech was feeling the added pressure from the World Number One and faltered in a long rally, hitting a backhand long, losing his serve and ultimately the match.
Tomorrow’s final will be contested between the two in-form players, both winners on the ATP tour this year. Both Federer and Djokovic will be gunning for their second title win of the season: Federer claimed the Brisbane title in January; Djokovic took the more coveted prize: the Australian Open.
The World Number One and Two have shared this title for many years, winning ten times between them. The last person to win this title outside of Federer or Djokovic was 2003 US Open Champion Andy Roddick, who upset the dominance to win it back in 2008.
Federer will take a 19-17 advantage into the match, however it was the Serb who won their last meeting back in November of 2014. Novak beat the Swiss Maestro to claim the Barclays World Tour Finals crown after Federer had to retire from the match without hitting a ball, much to the fans’ dismay. Hopefully Roger will be fit enough to play tomorrow.
Roger goes into the final as the defending champion, claiming the title in 2014 in which he beat the Serb in the semi-final; should be win tomorrow he will add another notch to his Dubai bedpost, claiming the title six times already. Djokovic will not give up without a fight despite losing to Federer in Dubai last year he will certainly go into the match as the favourite. Djokovic has also tasted success in Dubai: last winning the title in 2013, he has managed to claim the Dubai crown on four separate occasions, making for a mouth-watering final clash tomorrow.
It is expected to be a tightly contested affair, but Djokovic proved today that no matter how tough an opponent there is always a way through. Novak’s hard-fought match against Berdych should give him an added boost of confidence. Roger is yet to be tested: that should change tomorrow.
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