Djokovic, Sharapova Capture Beijing Crowns
China Open 2014 Finals
China Open Men’s Singles Final Sunday Oct 5
1-Novak Djokovic beat 3-Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-2
China Open Women’s Singles Final Sunday Oct 5
4-Maria Sharapova beat 3-Petra Kvitova 6-4 2-6 6-3
Djokovic Wins 5th Title with Dominating Performance vs Berdych in Final
atpworldtour.com October 5, 2014 Beijing, China - World No. 1 Novak Djokovic improved to a 24-0 mark at the China Open as he won his fifth title in Beijing with a masterclass performance to defeat Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday.
The Serb has not dropped a set all week in adding to the trophies he won in 2009 (d. Cilic), 2010 (d. Ferrer), 2012 (d. Tsonga) and 2013 (d. Nadal). Djokovic receives 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and $604,000.
Top seed Djokovic looked on course for a double bagel scoreline as he served for the match at 5-0 in the second set. But Berdych, having already offered his racquet to a ball kid in desperation, dug in to restore some pride before Djokovic served out victory at the second attempt in 67 minutes.
In the pair’s first meeting this season, Djokovic improved to a 16-2 lead in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. The 29-year-old Berdych had been chasing valuable points in the Emirates ATP Race To London. The Czech is up to No. 7 after reaching the Beijing final and maintained his position with Milos Raonic also losing in the Tokyo final.
The 27-year-old Djokovic captured an ATP World Tour-best fifth tour-level title of the year and the 46th of his career. The Belgrade native was victorious at Wimbledon (d. Federer) and three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (d. Federer), Miami (d. Nadal) and Rome (d. Nadal).
Djokovic will now look to extend his winning run by three-peating at next week’s Shanghai Rolex Masters. The Serb spoke at the start of his Beijing campaign of his desire to finish the season at World No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. He will be looking to cement his position atop the pile by winning his 20th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown and learned on Sunday that he will face Dominic Thiem in the second round.
Sharapova Claims First China Open Trophy, Outlasts Kvitova in 3-Set Final
wtatennis.com: October 5 2014 Beijing China - a - Maria Sharapova conjured up some of her three-setter magic in the final of the China Open on Sunday, rallying past Petra Kvitova for the Premier Mandatory-level title, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
Sharapova cruised through to the final without dropping a set, and after tucking the first set away with no drama, it looked as though that trend was going to continue. But the No.3-seeded Kvitova started finding the mark on her huge serve and groundstrokes from the start of the second set, striking 15 winners to just nine unforced errors to take it in 43 minutes and push the title match to a decider.
The No.4-seeded Sharapova would strike back in the third though, racing out to a 3-0 lead and, after missing her first match point opportunity at 5-2 with an inside out forehand into the net, serving the match out at love at 5-3, finishing it on a big serve that drew a Kvitova backhand into the net.
"It was a bit of an up-and-down match I'd say - maybe not the best out of the tournament," Sharapova said in her press conference. "But it's never easy playing against Petra. You don't always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she's a very good, confident player.
"I knew she'd been on a roll in the last couple of weeks. It's probably the toughest opponent you can face in a final, that's had that success, yet you just want to focus on your side, what you do best.
"She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her play that way. But I was able to lift my game again in the third and come out with a win."
It was an even more impressive rebound for Sharapova given she fell early in Wuhan last week.
"It was a disappointing result for me in Wuhan," she said. "I thought I was ready for the tournament and wanted to compete. I just didn't end up with a positive result. Within the time frame of only a couple of days until my first round here, I just had to settle down a bit. Sometimes it just takes a few little things to change things around - maybe some of those results ultimately get you to this position.
"I'm proud I just took a couple of days and did the work I could, and changed the result here."
Sharapova now has four WTA titles this year - Stuttgart, Madrid, Roland Garros and Beijing - which ties her for second-most this year alongside Ana Ivanovic. Serena Williams leads the tour with six.
Additionally, the Russian will rise from No.4 to No.2 on the WTA Rankings, trailing only Williams.
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