Federer beats Djokovic to win record seventh DDFTC crown

DUBAI, March 01 (Online): Roger Federer made it a seventh Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship triumph here with a 6-3, 7-5 success over world number one Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles.
The 33-year-old Swiss saved two break points in his second service game and then clinically took the very first chance that came his way on the Serbian’s serve at 3-4, 30-40 up; Djokovic hitting a backhand long to hand Federer the break and the subsequent opportunity to serve for the opening set.
An ace helped Federer get to 40-15 ahead and, although Djokovic managed to save one set point, he couldn’t the second as a forehand return sailed well beyond the baseline.
Federer then had to withstand plenty of pressure from the four-time Dubai champion in the latter stages of the second set.

At 4-3 and 5-4 up respectively, Djokovic squandered two break points in each game — two of which were, of course, set points — and he then dropped his own service for a second time from 40-0 in front.
Federer capitalised on two faults and a double fault to bring up advantage out, which he grasped with relish with a trademark inside-out forehand.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion fell 0-30 down when serving for the championship, but his serve never deserted him when it was really needed and two aces brought up a championship point and he prevailed with a put-away forehand at the net.
Federer thus inflicted a first defeat in a Dubai final on Djokovic, who had previously maintained a 100 per cent record with four wins from four (in 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2013).