Dominant Djokovic back on top of the world

LONDON: Novak Djokovic was at his imperious best as he sealed the year-end world No 1 ranking and advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Tomas Berdych

yesterday. Djokovic finishes on top of the rankings for the third time in four seasons and is only the seventh player to hold first place at the end of the calender year on at least three occasions.

The Serb’s third successive victory at the prestigious season-ending event at London’s O2 Arena ensured that he won Group A and will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in today’s semi-finals.

“It’s been a long year, a long season. It’s an incredible achievement and I want to thank my team and my family and all the people who supported me,” Djokovic said.

“I’m aware that being number one in the world is the biggest challenge a tennis player can have. It’s an incredible feeling and I’m very happy.

“This was definitely one of the best perfor mances,” he said. “I hoped I could continue the way I played in the first two matches.”

The No 1 ranking is a fitting reward for the Serb’s remarkable consistency during a year in which he won Wimbledon, reached the French Open final and claimed five other titles.

With top spot wrapped up, Djokovic can focus on becoming the first player to win the Tour Finals three years in a row since Ivan Lendl in the 1980s.

Few would bet against him after he lost a combined nine games during his three majestic group victories.

It is the 11th consecutive year that one of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal has finished on top of the rankings.

And, after Federer’s brilliant demolition of Andy Murray for the loss of only one game on Thursday, it was Djokovic’s turn to showcase the current gap that exists between the big three and the rest of their rivals.

The 27-year-old had looked untouchable in his routs of Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka and he continued to dominate against Berdych, who had lost 16 of his 18 meetings with the Serb. Berdych’s power serve is his main weapon but the slow pace of the court at the O2 Arena has neutralised many of the big hitters this week and it was no different this time as Djokovic broke without dropping a point in the opening game.

Djokovic’s remarkably agile movement when forced to defend meant there was no chance of Berdych outhitting him from the baseline and the Czech was soon left shaking his head in frustration as he was broken again.

Although the world No 7 finally got on the scoreboard after losing the first four games, it was too late to stop Djokovic clinching the set and with it his place in the last four.

As a for mer Wimbledon finalist, Berdych is hardly a nohoper, but he was unable to stem the tide and Djokovic broke his serve again in the opening game of the second set.

Another break in the third game effectively ended the contest and it wasn’t long before Djokovic was celebrating his 30th successive win in indoor matches with a triumphant group hug with coach Boris Becker and his backroom staff. – Sapa-AFP