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By Erik Gudris | Saturday, March 1, 2014

 

Roger Federer came back from a set down to defeat Tomas Berdych en route to winning his sixth Dubai title.

Photo Credit: AP

After pulling off a huge come from behind win versus Novak Djokovic on Friday, Roger Federer had to do it again at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Tomas Berdych, making his second straight appearance in the final, stood in Federer's way. Berdych himself was looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in his career having won in Rotterdam last week.

Entering the final as a slight favorite, the question for Federer would be if he could raise his level again so soon after beating Djokovic.

Early on in the first set, it didn't seem to be the case. While Federer looked sharp in the opening games, his form dropped as he committed multiple errors, especially on his favored forehand side. Federer's woes continued as his second serve points won percentage dipped well below 30 percent.

Berdych, who climbed out to a 5-2 lead, soon closed out the 6-3 first set with a pair of big serves.

While the largely pro-Federer crowd hoped their man would soon come to life, they had to wait a little while longer for it to happen. At 2-all in the second set, Berdych would test Federer's serve again. Federer would save two break points with two aces each, but could not fend off a third break point that gave Berdych a 3-2 lead.

Federer perked up though in the next game as he started to attack the net more often. A smash winner set up a break point for Federer that he converted when Berdych netted on the next point. This would prove a pivotal moment in the match as Federer's intensity increased while Berdych appeared to waver.

Taking hold of a 0-40 lead at 5-3, Federer would claim the set 6-4 after Berdych struck another forehand error. Federer kept hold of his momentum leading into the final set.

Playing with more purpose and aggression, Federer now clung to the baseline during his rallies with Berdych. At one stage, Federer won 15 out of 16 points and again held 0-40 on Berdych's serve. Berdych escaped though with some clutch serving to level the set at 1-all. A few games later, Berdych again found himself staring down break points. This time he couldn't come up with the answers as he would send a forehand long to give Federer a 3-1 lead.

The challenge for Federer was now to keep hold of his advantage down the stretch. Though Berdych would come up with 15-40 on Federer's service game at 4-2, it was Federer who responded by finding some big serves of his own. Getting out of the tight game, Federer found himself a game away from the title at 5-2. Watching from the stands, Federer's wife Mirka breathed a sigh of relief that perhaps the match was finally in her husband's grasp.

Berdych, saving two match points on his serve in the next game, would force Federer to serve for it all at 5-3. Federer didn't blink though as he soon held a third match point on his serve.

When Berdych sent a return well wide, Federer celebrated the 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

This is now Federer's sixth Dubai title and is his 78th career singles title overall. That puts him in third place on the all-time ATP winners list behind Ivan Lendl (94) and Jimmy Connors (109).

When reminded during the on-court ceremony that while his wife Mirka was pregnant in 2009, Federer played some of his best tennis of his career, the new champion gave a hopeful response now that Mirka is pregnant again with their third child.

"We're just happy that things are going well and I've been playing good tennis for the last few months now and it is true in 2009 when Mirka was pregnant I was playing some of my best tennis of my life and here it is again. It's a bit of repeat and I'm happy to be playing great tennis and I hope to keep it up for the coming weeks."

 

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