Top-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-2 on Sunday to win his third China Open tennis title in Beijing.
World number two Djokovic dug deep in the first set after an early trade of breaks to win a close tie-breaker and then broke the third-seeded Tsonga twice in the second set.
Sunday's victory gave Djokovic, who also won the China Open in 2009 and 2010, his fourth title of the year. The 2012 Australian Open champion will remain in the hunt to take back the world number one ranking from Roger Federer at the end of the year.
Earlier, Mike Bryan overtook Australian Todd Woodbridge's mark of 83 career doubles titles when he, along with brother Bob, beat Carlos Berlocq and Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-2 for their third China Open title in four years. It was the seventh title of the year for the American pair.
Azarenka dazzles
World number one Victoria Azarenka won her first title in more than six months when she beat Russian Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-1 in the women’s singles final.
Azarenka, who had beaten world number two Sharapova in their previous five hardcourt meetings, completely outclassed the Russian in splendid display of tennis.
Nishikori triumphs
Kei Nishikori stunned big-serving Milos Raonic 7-6, 3-6, 6-0 with an electrifying display of attacking tennis to become the host country’s first Japan Open champion in Tokyo on Sunday. It was the eighth seed’s second career title after winning in Delray Beach in 2008 and will elevate the 22-year-old from 17th to 15th in the world rankings.
Paes-Stepanek lose
Meanwhile, India’s Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek lost to Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in the men’s doubles final.
For Peya and Soares it was the second ATP World Tour doubles title in as many weeks.
The fourth seeds added the silverware to their Malaysian Open trophy with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) win over top seeds Paes and Stepanek in an hour and 46 minutes. Despite the loss, Paes and Stepanek clinched their first team berth at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, after they booked a place in the Tokyo final.
