Djokovic masters del Potro to defend crown

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Djokovic masters del Potro to defend crown

(Shanghai Daily) 08:26, October 14, 2013

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World No. 2 Novak Djokovic survived a fierce challenge from Juan Martin del Potro to defend his Shanghai Rolex Masters title yesterday, emerging with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (3) victory.

The 26-year-old Serb, holding a 9-3 head-to-head record against his Argentine opponent, promptly established his advantage, reeling off the first five games. He went all the way to a set point which was saved by del Potro who managed to take the game back, only to see the on-fire Serb serve for the set.

The Argentine sixth seed, who sent world No. 1 Rafael Nadal packing in the semifinal with his pin-point long returns, seemed to have lost his mojo. He was forced to move from side to side to handle Djokovic’s deep returns from across the net.

Having a chance to beat the No. 1 and 2 players in the same tournament for the first time in his career, as well as win his maiden Masters title, del Potro, a former US Open champion, held his nerve in a packed stadium to power into a 4-1 lead in the second set, which he won 6-3. He later credited the fans’ support for his comeback in the set, with the crowd obviously expecting a longer final showdown.

The two carried on cautiously in the decider with neither giving an inch. At 4-4, del Potro appeared to tire slightly, as during a changeover, chair umpire Damien Dumusois warned him that he needed to speed up play in between points.

Djokovic took the ninth game of the set and wasted two match points in the tenth.

In the tie-break, the Serb finished off a 24-shot rally to take a 4-2 lead. Del Potro, close to the limit of his stamina, carelessly sent a forehand wide to set up match point for the reigning champion. A backhand winner helped Djokovic to end the 2-1/2-hour battle and seal his 15th Masters title.

“The whole third set was give and take. I was break points down, he was break points down. Just in the important moments I managed to play some better shots than he did, I was fortunate and I am just really glad to win the title,” said Djokovic, who fired 47 winners in total.

“I am very proud of myself. I did everything, I fought every single point but he is so good and made the difference in the tie-break. I think he deserved to win,” del Potro conceded.

Djokovic pocketed US$729,725 along with 1,000 ATP ranking points, with US$357,800 and 600 points for del Potro. With back-to-back titles in an eight-day span — he retained the China Open title in Beijing — Djokovic is now undefeated in his last 20 matches in China.

Both players have qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals in London next month, along with Nadal and David Ferrer. Andy Murray pulled out of that event due to a back injury

The doubles title went to fifth-seeded pair Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil, who outlasted the Spanish duo David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 10-2.

It was the first ATP Masters 1000 final for both teams.

Dodig and Melo edged the tournament’s star pairing of Swiss Roger Federer and China’s Zhang Ze in the second round, and top seeded American Bryan brothers, Mike and Bob, in the semifinals, both in three sets.

Melo was in tears at the awards ceremony, saying the pair, currently ranked third, will carry their joy to the year-end Masters Cup in London.

A total of 135,000 fans turned up for the 9-day Shanghai Rolex Masters, despite the typhoon earlier in the week. It was the second highest attendance in the tournament’s five-year history, after last year’s 148,000.