Djokovic Dominates Berdych for Fifth China Open Title

October 6, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Novak_Djokovic (12)
Photo credit: Calvin Rhoden

Novak Djokovic simply does not lose in Beijing. The top-ranked Serb won his fifth China Open title on Sunday, rolling past Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-2 to capture the championship and improve to 24-0 in his career at the tournament.

He did not drop a set all week on his way to the crown which culminated with an absolutely dominant performance over the seventh-ranked player in the world.

“This has been, in the circumstances, probably the best performance of any final in my career,” said Djokovic. “It was an incredible. Incredible. Especially against Tomas, who has a big game and is already an experienced player.”

The five-time China Open champion was on the brink of shutting out Berdych completely. He led 6-0, 5-0 and was serving for the match in the second set before the Czech made it look more respectable with a break point followed by a hold.  

That was all he would get though, as Djokovic served out the match in his next try, wrapping up the 6-0, 6-2 win in just over an hour.

“It was 6-0, 5-0 in under an hour. Everything I tried worked,” said Djokovic. “To be proud of the performance is the least I can say of how I played tonight. I have played some great finals, had some convincing wins, some straight-set wins against top rivals.

But with this kind of performance and with this domination result-wise, I mean it’s never happened.”

The victory earns him 500 points in the ATP Race to London standings.  It is his fifth title of the season and the 46th of his historic career.

His performance impressed his opponent, who even tried to jokingly give his racquet to one of the ball boys to let him finish the match.

“I met somebody in the final who I’ve never seen before,” said Berdych, who won the China Open title in 2011, the year in between Djokovic’s titles. “The way that he performed today was really outstanding. There is really not much I can add to that because, really, I was just swept off the court.”

Both players now turn their attention to the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Djokovic will be the top-seed and is looking to win his third straight title in Shanghai, while Berdych is the sixth seed.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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