By Bill Scott Nov 16, 2008, 10:55 GMT
Shanghai - Novak Djokovic has capped the best season of his career with a major victory as he defeated Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5 to win the Masters Cup on Sunday.
A year ago, Djokovic limped home from Shanghai a round-robin loser with a 0-3 record. But the Serb stormed back into contention as he won the Australian Open in January and has now rounded off 2008 with similar success.
'Certainly I'm very happy to share this victory, as well, with my closest family members, the ones who were not here, in Belgrade, and the team,' said Djokovic.
'I would put it in the same league as a Grand Slam because the best eight players in the world are participating here.'
An overjoyed Djokovic stripped off his shirt and tossed it into the capacity 15,000 crowd before changing to a fresh one and hugging everyone in a player box which was flushed with success.
Since beating Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the Rome final, Djokovic had lost finals at Queen's club, Cincinnati and Bangkok to run his confidence to a low ebb.
Djokovic raced away to 5-0 in the first before Davydenko could react, with the Russian going down in the 32-minute opener.
A break in the third game of the second set for the fired-up Djokovic put the 21-year-old on the road to victory. But the dogged Davydenko had other plans, saving a pair of match points in the 10th game to break and throw it back on serve, 5-all.
Djokovic took the situation in hand with a re-break and fell to his knees in victory a game later as Davydenko hit the net after one hour, 42 minutes.
'This was special because I've played in the second part of the season in a couple of finals, and I didn't manage to win the title for a long time since Rome,' said the Serb. 'That's probably the reason why I couldn't close it out at 5-4. I was a bit nervous. 'It's not easy, there is a lot of pressure involved. I'm happy that I managed to hold my nerves in the end.'
Djokovic beat Davydenko in group play this week after quitting a Davis Cup match through illness against the Russian in the spring.
Djokovic ended his season with a 64-17 record as he claimed his first title since Rome in May and fourth of the season.
'From the baseline I had no chance,' said Davydenko. 'He played much faster and I had no chance.
'I've lost already like four finals, now it's five for me. But against Djokovic you need to be perfect, and play very fast and very good. That's what he did, and I didn't.'
The Serb added Shanghai to his Grand Slam and Masters shields in Indian Wells and Rome.
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