THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHANGHAI, China -- Third-ranked Novak Djokovic won his first Masters Cup title with a 6-1, 7-5 win Sunday over Nikolay Davydenko in the season-ending tournament.
It was Djokovic's first tournament victory since he won the Rome Masters in May, leaving him just 10 points behind No. 2 Roger Federer in the rankings.
After Davydenko netted a serve return on match point, Djokovic repeatedly pumped both fists and threw two rackets, his wristbands and shirt into the crowd. He celebrated with his family and coach in a group hug, jumping together in joy.
Djokovic managed to cut his left hand during the celebration and, dripping blood, had to call for the trainer for a bandage before the awards ceremony.
"But you don't feel the pain in the moments of happiness," he said. "I would put it in the same league as a Grand Slam because the best eight players in the world are participating here. It's a huge achievement for me."
The US$625,000 and Mercedes SUV were nice, too. He honked the horn of the car, which was brought on court during the awards ceremony.
Djokovic dedicated the victory to his family, support team and fans back in Serbia, who also were celebrating Nenad Zimonjic's title with Canada's Daniel Nestor in the doubles final over American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan to clinch the year-end top ranking. Jelena Jankovic of Serbia wrapped up the No. 1 ranking on the women's side.
"There's been so much going on for Serbian tennis lately that it's just incredible to describe how could we do it in such a small period of the time," Djokovic said.
Overtaking Federer will be no easy feat since Djokovic will have to defend his titles early in the year at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, Calif. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal has a substantial lead, although he is nursing a sore knee that kept him away from Shanghai.
Djokovic, who said he was exhausted after needing nearly three hours to beat Gilles Simon in Saturday's semifinals, was sharp from the start. He won the first five games, allowing Davydenko only six points.
While the fans in packed Qi Zhong stadium clearly favoured Djokovic, they roared when Davydenko finally got on the board to pull within 5-1.
He fended off double break-point in the next game before finishing off the set with a deep backhand crosscourt.
Djokovic, who went 0-3 in his debut last year at the season-ending event, broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, leaping high as he pumped his fist.
Djokovic, serving for the match, smashed an ace to save one break-point at 15-40, but showed some nerves and double-faulted to hand the game to Davydenko.
"It's not easy, you know," Djokovic said. "There is a lot of pressure involved. it's very important after not closing out the match to hold your nerves, and that's what I did."
Serving at 5-5, Davydenko netted a forehand on break-point. Djokovic didn't squander the opportunity, easily holding to finish off the match.
Davydenko only got in 47 per cent of his first serves and had just 15 winners to 25 unforced errors.
"Against Djokovic you need to be perfect," he said.
It will be the first time since 2004 that the Bryan brothers aren't No. 1 in the year-end doubles rankings.
"With all the points out there, having it hinge on ... a few points at the end of the season is pretty amazing," Bob Bryan said. "I guess we've got to tip our hat to them. They played a great tournament and had a great year. We look forward to battling it out next year for the same thing."
Nestor and Zimonjic have now beaten the Americans three straight times and went through the tournament undefeated.
"To win the Masters Cup -- for me for the first time, for Danny to defend the title -- to play against the Bryans, who have been dominating the doubles the last four, five years, and to fight for the No. 1 spot, you couldn't ask for more as an athlete," said Zimonjic, who won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in January with China's Sun Tiantian.
This was the final year for the Masters Cup in Shanghai. It will move to London next year, while Shanghai will get the Masters tournament that has been held in Hamburg.
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