Djokovic Wins For 4th time in Beijing, Del Potro Tops in Tokyo For 3rd Title of 2013
ATP Beijing
Novak Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4 over the new world #1, Rafael Nadal, to take his fourth career title in Beijing. Djokovic has been foiled by Nadal quite often this year, and this head to head win will certainly give him a boost in confidence as we head towards the end of the season. Novak beat Lukas Rosol in round 1, dropped a set to Fernando Verdasco in round 2 before grabbing the win, then beat Sam Querrey and Richard Gasquet in the quarters and semis to make the final.
He dropped a mere 9 games over 4 sets of tennis.
Nadal looked a cut above as well, dispatching Santiago Giraldo and Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first couple of rounds, then beating Fabio Fognini in 3 in the quarters, and getting a 1st set retirement victory over Tomas Berdych.
Max Mirnyi/Horia Tecau won the doubles title over the Italian duo of Fabio Fognini/Andreas Seppi.
ATP Tokyo
Top seed Juan Martin Del Potro won his third title of the year in Tokyo, 7-6, 7-5 over the red hot Milos Raonic. JMDP beat Marcos Baghdatis in 3, Carlos Berlocq in straights, Alex Dolgopolov in 3 and Nicolas Almagro in 2 tiebreaks to reach the final.
Raonic, who had won Bangkok the week prior, extended his winning streak against Go Soeda, Jeremy Chardy, Lukas Lacko and Ivan Dodig, all without dropping a set.
Rohan Bopanna/Edouard Roger-Vasselin took the doubles over Jamie Murray/John Peers, who were also titlists last week in Bangkok.
—Steen Kirby
Tennis Atlantic 