Djokovic unbeaten after Miami win

By Piers Newbery
Djokovic BBC Sport has not lost since the ATP World Tour Finals in London last November, Novak Djokovic expanded its unbeaten start to the end of 2011 with a stunning victory over world number one Rafael Nadal in the Sony Ericsson Open final.

The Serbian, 23, came to claim his seventh Masters Series win, his fourth title of the year and taking his record 2011 to 24-0 to 4-6 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

It is the best start of a year in men's tennis since Ivan Lendl with 25 consecutive wins in 1986.

Nadal and Djokovic now head to Europe for the start of the clay-court season.

And the world number two will look further to close the gap on Nadal on top of the standings, the Spaniard has a large number of ranking points to defend, have won all the major clay tournaments last year.

Or Djokovic is ready to surpass Nadal on clay remains open to question but after defeating his nearest rival in back-to-back Masters Series finals over the past two weeks, there is no doubt he is the man to beat now.

Nadal had won the set opening of their Indian Wells final two weeks ago, before Djokovic came storming back, and Sunday the contest in Miami followed a similar pattern.

A blustery wind hampered both men in the opening stages, with Nadal coping marginally better and grabbing the first break in game three before off three break points in the next game to see.

When Djokovic hit a forehand in the tram lines to fall down a double break the set was as good as done, but of 5-1 down he began to find his range.

His more aggressive style had Nadal on the flight and although the Spaniard the set seal, Djokovic reeled off six of the seven games to move 3-0 clear in the second and serve to force a Decider.

The final set exhibited after two sets of uneven play, the best of the top two players in the world, with each man appear to grab the momentum just for his opponent to wrestle it back.

Nadal of backhand proved unusually are more potent wing, while a few sublime lobs and numerous confidence flights on the net demonstrated how Djokovic of game has beware.

Neither man could force a breakpoint in a pulsating set and the resulting tie-break equally dramatic way with five consecutive points against serve opened.

It was a double fault from Nadal that proved crucial as he fell 3-2 before Djokovic finally held a Service point and, after the Spaniard saved two match points on serve, the world number two sealed victory after three hours and 21 minutes with a big serve followed by a crunching forehand in the corner.

"It was a close match," Djokovic said. "To win against the number one player in the world in a tie-break in the third set, it's just incredible.

"This is one of the best matches I have played in a while. I was able to find my rhythm at the end of the first set, and then in the entire second and third set I played very well, especially on my service games. "

Djokovic last singles defeat against Roger Federer in the ATP World Tour semi-finals in London in november last year ago, and now 26 matches in a row, including 24 this year has won.

View the original article here