World number one Novak Djokovic won a fourth Mubadala World Tennis Championship title on Saturday, coming back from a set down to beat Kevin Anderson 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Djokovic claimed victory on a fifth match point against his South African opponent who won the pre-season exhibition tournament in 2018.
The 31-year-old Djokovic previously claimed the three-day event in the UAE in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and has now matched Rafael Nadal’s record of four titles.
“I’m a bit tired. We weren’t expecting to play two hours and 30 minutes just before the start of the season,” said Djokovic who is building towards an assault on a possible seventh Australian Open title next month.
Wimbledon and US Open champion Djokovic now heads to neighbouring Doha where he will be top seed at the Qatar Open starting on Monday. He will take on Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur in his tournament opener.
World number six Anderson is top seed for the Maharashtra Open in Pune, India.
The Championship trophy was handed over to Djokovic by H.E. Major General Mohamad Khalfan Al Romaithi, Chairman of the General Authority of Sports. Also present were H.E. Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy CEO and Chief Corporate and Human Capital Officer, Mubadala (Second from left) and H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports (First from left).
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