Federer takes third Qatar Open crown!!!

Roger Federer swatted aside defending champion Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 6-4 to clinch the Qatar Open title in Doha for a third time!!!

The number two seed took the opening set courtesy of a solitary break in the second game as the Russian began the match sluggishly.

The second set looked to be heading towards the tie-break, but Federer suddenly sprang to life and seized the initiative at 4-4 to break serve emphatically and promptly serve out for the title.

"I'm very happy to kick-off the season today this way I think I played an amazing match...it will give me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season," Federer said in a courtside interview.

Davydenko overcame the world number two in the semi-finals in Doha a year ago, but could not match his opponent's intensity this time around as Federer played with the utmost efficiency in taking the match in 79 minutes.

Federer made an electric start, pummelling two ferocious forehands down the line to breach his opponent's defences and stamp his authority on the match in the second game to assume a 2-0 lead.

Davydenko was forced to save five break points at 5-2 down, but the Russian could not stave off the relentless pressure applied by the Swiss and was unable to get back on terms.

Federer clinched the opening set with a typically composed and unerring service hold, while Davydenko was left to throw his arms up in frustration in an unusually animated display from the Russian.

The defending champion produced a valiant effort in a bid to power back into the match in a very finely poised second set, and neither player was able to break serve early on.

With the set in the balance at 4-4 Federer, in almost inevitable fashion, raised his intensity to devastating effect.

Davydenko wavered fractionally on his delivery, and Federer was utterly ruthless: two flashing forehand winners proved the difference, and suddenly the Swiss was just a service hold shy of victory.

The Russian bludgeoned a stunning forehand winner to peg his opponent back and win the opening point, but Federer surged back to seal the hold, and with it the Qatar Open title for a record third time.

"He played very well for sure, today was tough, he gave me no chance on the return," Davydenko said.

"I don't want to say I played badly today, I played okay but Federer didn't give me a chance to realise my game. I don't know if he can hold at this level for the whole year."

News & Picture From:
Dan Quarrell / Eurosport