Top seed wins 12th ATP World Tour title over fourth seed Ferrer

Novak Djokovic overcame David Ferrer 7-5 6-3 on Saturday to win the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships at his third attempt, after he had fallen in the 2007 Dubai quarter-finals to Roger Federer and in the 2008 semi-finals to Andy Roddick, who both went on to take the title.

Both players thrilled the crowd with exciting rallies, and although top-seeded Djokovic took the lead on several occasions his Spanish opponent repeatedly pulled himself back into contention.

It was the Serb who earned the first break to lead 4-2, but he was immediately broken back when he netted a backhand after a long rally. Djokovic then broke again to lead 5-3 and serve out the set, but instead he allowed fourth seeded Ferrer to win the next eight points to level at 5-5.

In a strange reversal, Djokovic then won eight of the next nine points to seal the set.

Djokovic again earned the advantage in the second set by breaking to lead 2-0, but he once more almost let his advantage slip away.

Ferrer was able to break back in the seventh game, but he then double-faulted to drop his serve and leave Djokovic once again leading 5-3.

In a dramatic conclusion to the tournament, Djokovic then had to fight off a break point and a bad line call, calling upon Hawkeye to confirm he had hit an ace on match point.

“It's a very important title,” said the delighted Djokovic. “I had not started the year the way I may be wanted it and the way maybe the people expecting me to. I made some major changes with my racquet, which was quite risky at this time. But, look, I take my responsibility and that's what I did, so I just have to move on.

“And as the season is going on, I feel more comfortable with the racquet and I feel comfortable on the court more. I try to release the pressure that I have and just play the tennis that I played in the first part of the 2008, and if I do so, I think I will be pretty successful.”

Ferrer was obviously disappointed with his defeat, but gave his opponent full credit.

“Well, he plays better than me, serve better. He played very, very focused on the match. But me, I played a good game. I'm happy with my game, but maybe the key was he's a better tennis player than me. He was really fast, very regular, and the serve, he has better serve than me in important moments, and the serve was the key, the only difference.

“But I did a very good game, very good tennis, and I'm very happy. Maybe this week I found my tennis. This week I enjoyed my tennis, I'm happy with my tennis.”