Shanghai: It proved all too easy once again for Novak Djokovic as the world number one continued his frightening dominance of men’s tennis by blitzing past Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win another Shanghai Masters title yesterday.
The Serbian, 10-times a grand slam champion, brushed aside the challenge of a befuddled Tsonga 6-1 6-4 to claim his third Shanghai Masters and ninth title of a standout year that has left him being spoken of among the sport’s all-time greats.
Djokovic won three grand slams this year, was runner-up at the French Open and since suffering a surprise quarter-final loss to Ivo Karlovic in Qatar in January has made the final of all 13 events he has played. The 30-year-old Tsonga had shown his serving prowess in taking out Rafa Nadal in three tight sets in the semi-finals on Saturday but against the imperious returning skills of Djokovic he had no answers.
The 28-year-old Serb nullified Tsonga’s most potent weapon to break his three opening service games and take a first set which the Frenchman played predominantly way behind the baseline.
l Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych have secured their places at the ATP World Tour Finals, leaving just two spots in the eight-man field to fill.
Nadal and Berdych will compete alongside Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka at the season finale in London from November 15-22.
Nadal qualified for the 11th consecutive season after reaching the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, one week on from a runner-up showing at the China Open in Beijing.
The 30-year-old Berdych will make his sixth consecutive appearance at the season-ending event.
In the race for the remaining two places, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and David Ferrer of Spain are currently in seventh and eighth spots.
&uuid=(email))