Djokovic downs Federer to complete trophy Dubai hat-trick (Roundup)

By Bill Scott Feb 26, 2011, 17:20 GMT

Dubai - Novak Djokovic completed a trophy hat-trick at the Dubai Championships as the Serb defeated Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 to deny the Swiss a fifth trophy in the desert Saturday.

Federer's winning margin in the series with the world number three Serb was whittled to 13-8 after the loss in a 71-minute contest at the Aviation club.

'Things happened really fast, Novak was playing well,' said Federer. 'It's really disappointing to lose this one.

'But it was another final for me. I tried to do what I could but it didn't really happen for me. I played five straight days this week but the body feels fine and that's always good.

'I'm happy about it.'

It was the second straight win for Djokovic against Federer after beating the world number two Swiss in an Australian Open semi-final after losing three straight matches in Shanghai, Basel and Paris in the autumn.

'I had to play unbelievably well,' said Djokovic. 'This was by far my best match of the week, I was on top of my game, it was the perfect match.

'I had a good preparation and have been working hard on my serve. Six months ago it was not like this.'

Djokovic was lethal on serve, missing just three first serves in the opening set and ending with 82 percent of first serves. The loss leaves Federer with one title so far in 2011, at Doha in January.

Djokovic has won won 15 straight matches in the emirate and is riding a career-best 14-match winning streak going back to December's Davis Cup final. Djokovic now owns his 20th career title on the ATP World Tour.

Federer was broken in the third game of the opening set with a mis-hit backhand, only the start of his errors on the evening.

The Swiss took a 3-1 lead in the second set only to lose it two games later after a double-fault and two forehand errors paved the way. The Swiss missed an overhead at the net in the lights as Djokovic pulled level at 3-all.

The Serb second seed then broke for 5-3 after Federer saved two chances, with a backhand error form the Swiss putting Djokovic into winning position.

A game later, the Serb wrapped up the victory on the first of two match points, from Federer's concluding unforced error.

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