Novak Djokovic has retained the Dubai Championship title after eventually seeing off Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic has retained the Dubai Championship title after eventually seeing off Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday.
The Serb overcame a worrying slump after an overnight rain delay that saw the match adjourned from Saturday when he was well ahead.
Djokovic led 7-5 2-0 before the Saturday delay kicked in because of the rain, but when play resumed on Sunday he soon found everything squared up as Russian seventh seed Youzhny turned things around and took the second set 7-5, while Djokovic was given a warning for racket abuse amid some poor serves.
However, as the sun came back out the Serb got his grove back - twice breaking Youzhny - and claimed the final set 6-3 and complete the first ever successful trophy defence of his career as he also cemented his place as world number two behind Roger Federer.