Federer downs Berdych for sixth Dubai Open

FE Team | Published: March 03, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

DUBAI, Mar 2 (AFP): Roger Federer followed his best win in 18 months by taking his first title in nine months with a revenge victory over Tomas Berdych in Saturday's final of the Dubai Open.
Federer came from behind to beat world number two Novak Djokovic Friday.
Now he did the same against Berdych, the man who saved two match points against him in last year's semi-finals, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim a sixth title in the UAE.
It was never a great final, for the error count was too high, but it became increasingly dramatic as the game's best known player worked his way back into it against one of the sport's most dangerous hitters.
Federer was a set and a break down and appeared to be out of it but managed to find some good returns at last, just as the match was slipping away, and broke back at once. Then his standard went up.
It extended Federer's record of Dubai titles to six, and moved him above John McEnroe's total of 77 titles into third place in the all-time title list.
Only Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors remain above the Swiss.
Most of all it helped the Grand Slam record-holder to maintain his belief that even at 32, he has another major in him.
"It's the mental belief that you're gonna win instead of losing-I think that's what I got back right now," said Federer, after lifting his first trophy since Halle in June last year.
While he had been brilliant in the second half of the match against Djokovic, Federer was more circumspect about the tennis which had got him over the line against Berdych.
"He should have brought it home," Federer admitted. "I got a little lucky. I just fought well and I couldn't be more happy with the outcome.