Agencies
BEIJING, OCTOBER 5
Novak Djokovic dominated Tomas Berdych, 6-0, 6-2, to win the title at the China Open for a fifth time.
The world No. 1 had one of the most dominating performances in a final and was on his way to a possible shutout on Sunday until the third-seeded Berdych broke the super Serb’s serve in the 12th game of the match.
Djokovic then gave back another game until closing the match when his Czech opponent sent a return into the net.
“It was probably the best performance in a final I ever had,” Djokovic said.
Berdych finally threw his hands up in celebration after winning the 12th game of the match. That’s when Djokovic sent a return long during the 66-minute rout.
Before that, though, Djokovic picked his opponent apart, breaking serve in the first game of the match.
The shutout was inching closer when Djokovic used his super speed and fired a backhand cross-court winner, this after Berdych made a sparkling play at the net. That resulted in a 5-0 lead in the second set.
Berdych’s win in the 12th game was small consolation for firing only nine winners in the entire match.
Djokovic, who captured the $604,000 first-place prize, improved to 24-0 all- time at this event, which he won in 2009-10 and again in 2012-13. It’s his 46th tour-level title, which puts him three victories shy of coach Boris Becker’s total.
Berdych, who won the 2011 crown, was trying for his 10th career title. He fell to 2-16 all-time against Djokovic. Berdych is 0-14 in his career versus Djokovic on hard courts.
The two hadn’t played since the 2013 Davis Cup final, a three-set Djokovic victory. Berdych last beat the Serb in the Rome quarterfinals in 2013 and his only other victory came in the 2010 Wimbledon semifinals.
