Novak Djokovic Redeemed in Dubai Final

Congrats, Nole! Novak Djokovic won his first final of the year in Dubai today, convincingly beating Spaniard David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 and showing the tennis world that he’s still a top dog on tour.

He didn’t have to go through Federer, Nadal, or Murray to do it, but wins this week over Marin Cilic, Gilles Simon and the always tough-to-beat Ferrer should keep the doubters from riding him too hard. Novak’s definitely redeemed himself after showing some patchy form (new racquet), fitness (bad off-season preparation), and focus (feeling the pressure) this season.

Djokovic addressed some of these issues in a post-match interview:

"

It’s a very important title. I had not started the year the way I maybe wanted to and the way maybe people were expecting me to. I made some major changes— my racket, which was quite risky at this time.

But as the season is going on I feel more comfortable with the racket and I feel comfortable on the court more. I try to release the pressure that I have and just play the tennis that I played in the first part of 2008, and if I do so I think I will be pretty successful.

"

Djokovic will be back in the pressure cooker next week, when he meets Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, and Feliciano Lopez in Spain for a mouth-watering Davis Cup tie.

Highlights from today’s Djokovic vs. Ferrer final in Dubai:

Novak Djokovic post-match interview:

Photo: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images