DJOKOVIC OPENS SEASON WITH ANOTHER QATAR TITLE
DOHA— Novak Djokovic successfully defended his Qatar Open title by beating top-seeded Andy Murray, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in the final on Saturday. The dramatic match showcased the best of men’s tennis for 2 hours, 54 minutes. Djokovic needed four match points—three in the second set and one in the third—to prevail. He was also fortunate not to be defaulted for accidentally hitting a woman in the stands with a ball hit in anger.
“Best scenario I could ask for for beginning of the season,” Djokovic said.
“Playing all five matches in this tournament and then three hours against No. 1 of the world, (my) biggest rival, and winning in a thrilling marathon match is something that definitely can serve as a positive incentive for what’s coming up in Australia.
“It’s only the beginning of the season, so we had a little laugh at the net actually about it. We both felt like if every match we’re going to play against each other is going to be this way this season, we’re going to have a fun time.”
Pliskova whips Cornet
Murray’s loss ended his 28match winning streak that dated to Sept. 18. He won their last encounter, 6-3, 6-4, in the ATP Finals in November. That victory catapulted Murray ahead of Djokovic to the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time.
“Physically, it was a good test to start the year,” Murray said. “My body feels all right just now.”
In Brisbane, Australia, Karolina Pliskova won all but five points in the first six games to set up a 60, 6-3 rout of Alize Cornet in the Brisbane International final on Saturday, setting an ominous tone for the first Grand Slam.
The US Open finalist will move to a career-high No. 5 ranking for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 16, after winning her first Brisbane title and seventh on the WTA tour.
“I didn’t miss in almost the whole first set,” Pliskova said. “I was feeling pretty good.”
Chennai Open
Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain eased past Benoit Paire of France, 6-3, 6-3, on Saturday to meet Daniil Medvedev in the Chennai Open final.
Bautista Agut, a beaten finalist in 2013, was in command as usual against Paire, who got to the semifinals without dropping a set.
The unseeded Medvedev outlasted the more experienced Dudi Sela of Israel 4-6, 7-6 (2), 62 to make his maiden ATP final.