Djokovic wins first trophy in 2016, 60th in his career

Wawrinka, the two-time defending champion who won his first title here in 2011 after finishing runner-up in 2010, dominated the 65-minute match against third-seeded Paire with his strong serve, and saved his lone break point in the second set.

Djokovic closed out the opening after 31 minutes, firing 16 winners and four aces. After his historic 2015, I see no reason to believe that he will be any less great this season.

"Being in the first final of the season in the first official tournament is something great". I am playing well, won four matches here and am in the final.

Nadal fought hard to make the match competitive but was unable to control his service games, while Djokovic's ability to change the direction of the ball from the baseline repeatedly caught the world No. 5 off-guard. Djokovic strolled to victory in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

"I was one match away previous year". The Serb, who reached the quarter-finals past year, quickly reasserted his authority to take game three (3-1).

Nadal looked to be challenging from the start, earning a break point in the first game, but Djokovic erased the challenge then went about erasing the Spaniards chances, in the next game going up 40-love on Nadal's serve before eventually breaking.

If Novak Djokovic manages to win the final game by defeating Nadal, it will boost Novak's confidence to very much extent.

He draws level with Andre Agassi in a tie for ninth. Djokovic had now won nine of their last 10 meetings.

Marchenko, the world No. 94, was by no means disgraced in his first career match against Nadal. Djokovic recovered from break deficits against Berdych (once) and Leonardo Mayer (twice).

The longtime rivals, who have played 46 matches in their careers so far, now stand dead even at 23 apiece; it is the Serb who has by far been the more successful on hard surfaces, which will bode well for him. "It's been a long rivalry".

Roger Federer, still battling a flu bug, held off Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 and take his title defense into the semifinals at the Brisbane International in Australia.

Nadal after the final said essentially 'No worries, the year is young'. At just 22 years old, Thiem is already in the top 20 and can be expected to stay there for perhaps the next decade.

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