World number one Novak Djokovic claimed his fifth China Open title with a straight set demolition of Czech Tomas Berdych as Russian woman tennis ace Maria Sharapova beat third seed Petra Kvitova in the final in Beijing.
Djokovic beat Berdych 6-0, 6-2, while Sharapova had to battle on to beat Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Djokovic, who has never lost in Beijing, won in just 66 minutes for a 24th consecutive China Open match win.
Djokovic said that it was probably his best performance in all the finals in his career, adding that it was extremely incredible, The BBC reported.
The Serb said that it was 6-0, 5-0 in under an hour, adding that everything he tried worked. He said that to be proud of the performance is the least he can say of how he played.
Berdych admitted that he was no match for Djokovic, who claimed his first China Open in 2009 and has held the trophy since with the exception of 2011, when he withdrew through injury and Berdych won the title.
Berdych said that he met somebody in the final who he has never seen before, adding that really the way that Djokovic performed was really outstanding.
Meanwhile Sharapova, who would move up to number two in the world, won in two hours and 28 minutes. It was her fifth successive victory over Kvitova, who would have risen to world number two had she taken the title, following her triumph in the inaugural Wuhan Open last week.
Sharapova said that it was a bit of an up-and-down match; maybe not the best out of the tournament, but added that it's never easy playing against Kvitova. She said that one does not always quite get a good rhythm.
The Russian said that Kvitova became the more aggressive player in the second set, adding that she thinks she took a few too many steps back and let the Czech play that way. But, Sharapova said that she was able to lift her game again in the third and come out with a win.
Meanwhile in Tokyo, Kei Nishikori won his second Japan Open title by beating Milos Raonic, the man he defeated in the final two years ago. Nishikori won 7-6
(7-5), 4-6, 6-4 under a closed roof at the Ariake Colosseum in two hours and 13 minutes.
The victory puts Nishikori fifth in the Race to London for the ATP World Tour Finals, the top eight qualifying for the 02 Arena next month, the report added.
