NOVAK Djokovic has won his seventh Miami Open ATP Tour title, bringing his total career tally to 80 after downing fierce rival, Rafael Nadal in an epic contest. The pair had earned their place in the final after barnstorming their way to the decider with some impressive victories against quality opposition. As an example, the world number one had dropped just five games combined in his past two matches against David Goffin and Alexander Zverev.

The match started off with plenty of excitement and Djokovic – a six-time winner at Miami – going in as a strong favourite against Nadal who was yet to win here. Such was the interest in Djokovic winning, a large crowd turned up with Andre Agassi – a six-time winner himself – there to see if the Serbian star could break the record and go it alone with number seven. It did not go his way in the opening set, as Nadal broke at 4-3 up to then hold serve in the ninth game and take out the set 6-3.

As the Miami Open crowd had seen on plenty of occasions however, Djokovic found a way back into the game and it came in the second set when at 3-2, he broke and then did it again the next game to take out the set 6-2 and level the match. His four-game streak extended into the next set as he won the first four games there to make it eight on the trot and all but claim the match. Nadal managed to break even over the last few games to gain some respect back into the scoreline, but the world number one was just far too strong in the end, finding an extra gear to go to, and on hard court he is just too good.

Djokovic claimed the match, and his record seventh title, 3-6 6-2 6-2 in a flat two hours to extend his stranglehold on the pole position of the ATP Tour world rankings. He and Nadal will now rest for a week until Monte Carlo on the clay where Nadal will hope to start his chase of the number one ranking again.

FINAL RESULT:

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) 3-6 6-2 6-2