Djokovic denies Ferrer to win Dubai title

DUBAI - Novak Djokovic overcame a patchy effort littered with breaks of serve before lifting his first title of 2009 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over David Ferrer at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

The Serb world number three Saturday improved to 4-3 against Spain’s scampering Ferrer, the second finalist from his nation in as many years at the Aviation club after Feliciano Lopez lost in 2008 to Andy Roddick.

The match was a preview of next weekend’s Davis Cup World Group tie in Spain.

Djokovic, whose last title came in November at the year-end championships in Shanghai, took his 12th career trophy to lift his season record to 14-4.

‘This is a very special win for me,’ said Djokovic. ‘This will give me a lot of confidence for 2009, I’m very happy to win.’

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.

The pair played on a court which had to be repeatedly swept for loose sand before the start after a minor dust storm blew earlier during daylight hours.

Ferrer now stand 7-6 in ATP finals.

‘David is known as one of the hardest workers on the Tour,’ said Djokovic. ‘He makes you work for every game, for every winner. He did that again tonight.’

Djokovic made heavy weather of what turned into a 51-minute opening set, which featured a run of four consecutive breaks of serve midway through.

The Serb missed a chance to close it out leading 5-3, dropping serve for the second time as the Spaniard kept in touch, 4-5.

A love game from Ferrer knotted the set at five apiece before Djokovic produced a timely love hold and followed up with a third break of Ferrer to seal the combative set.

Djokovic took early command in the second set for a 4-1 margin before Ferrer was able to react with a break-back for 4-2 on a Hawk-Eye challenge.

But the drama was far from over as Djokovic couldn’t hold onto his lead, sending a return into the net to let Ferrer back in, 4-3.

A concluding break for 5-3 on a Ferrer double-fault and a Djokovic match point a game later which was decided on an electronic line-call wrapped up the final in just over 90 minutes.