Nole is the 2012 China Open champion!
World no.2 Novak Djokovic won his third title in Beijing and 32nd career trophy with a 7-6(4), 6-2 victory over third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Novak saved two break points in the opening game and held for 1-0. He was broken to love in the fifth game, but broke back immediately to level at 3-all. The set went to a tie-breaker, Nole won it 7-4 in 64 minutes.
The five-time Grand Slam winner made a double break in the second set and saved two break points in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead. He served out the set and match to love for the sixth straight victory over the Frenchman.
“I think the first set was really even, and maybe a couple of points decided the winner there,” said Novak. “We both had our chances aside those breaks that we converted. I managed to hold my nerves in the end. When you’re getting to the second set with the set advantage, mentally it is much more encouraging for you and then you try to play on that confidence run that you have. I made that early break in the second set and I felt much more comfortable on the court.”
Djokovic withstood nine aces from Tsonga and converted three of his eighth break point opportunities to claim the final.
He became the ATP World Tour’s match win leader for the year and also maintained his perfect 14-0 record at the China Open.
“I am planning to come back to the China Open next year,” said Novak. “It’s been one of my most successful tournaments. This is where I love to play. I love the conditions and, as I mentioned before, I have lots of support from the fans who are very loyal and very nice.”
This was Nole’s 51st ATP World Tour level final (32-19 record). He has a 4-5 record in finals this season and 65-11 match record (40-4 on hard, 17-10 vs. Top 10 opponents).
Victory earns Novak 500 ATP points, boosting his chances of reclaiming the no.1 spot from Roger Federer. The result moves Nole to within 935 points of the top-ranked Swiss.
When asked about the battle to clinch the year-end world no.1 ranking, he said, “That’s the target. This will definitely help me in that race, but it’s still quite open. There are still tournaments to come, big ones. Shanghai, the first 1000 event that is next week. I want to try to get as far as I can in the tournament, taking one match at a time as I always do.”
Nole dancing to the popular song Gangnam Style with ballkids
To see photos from the event, visit our Gallery.
Novak is seeded no.2 at the Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament taking place from October 7–14.
He will open his campaign against either Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or Spaniard Pablo Andujar in the second round of the eighth ATP World Masters 1000 event of the season.
Photos: Getty Images
