Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer 7-5 6-3 to win the Dubai Championships, his first title of the season, his 12th title and his first since he won the Tennis Masters Cup in November!

This was this year's first final for Nole. At this year's Australian Open, he retired against Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.

Novak 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.

“This is a very special moment.” said Novak, "David is known as one of the hardest workers on the Tour, he makes you work for every game, for every winner. He did that again tonight."

“Winning any tournament is a huge success and Dubai has grown into one of the strongest events on the tour,” continued Novak. “I thought fighting qualities got me through and I’m really proud of myself.


“I haven’t started the year as I would have wanted to and haven’t played in the way people expected. I made some changes in terms of my racket which was quite risky but as the weeks go on I feel more and more comfortable. This week I just tried to release the pressure that was on me.”

"But this win can help next week even in completely different conditions and in front of a Spanish crowd." added Nole.


Ferrer, despite chasing down every ball, was unable to impose his game on Djokovic, playing his first final in his third appearance at the event.

"He played better than me, and served better. He played very, very focused. But I'm happy with my game, but maybe the key was he's a better tennis player than me," admitted the Spaniard.

"Now I want to focus with the Davis Cup," said Ferrer. "We will play at home in clay court, my surface favorite, and we will see then."


(photo/KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)

Djokovic beats Ferrer to win Dubai Championships