2015 US Open Champion Novak Djokovic crushed Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-2 in the men’s final on Sunday, to become the only player to have won the ATP China Open title six times; he also holds the tournament record for consecutive wins, with four titles.
The Serb and the Spaniard’s career head-to-head now stands at 23-22 in favour of the Spaniard, but Nole won seven of the past eight meetings; the two Tennis legends have had the biggest rivalry in the history of any two players on the ATP tour ever.
The World No.1, who wrapped up his eighth title of the year in a mere hour and thirty minutes, surely has one of the most memorable seasons in the history of tennis. He started the opening game brilliantly and converted on his first break point to gain an important 2-0 advantage. His opponent, on the other hand, was slow at the start and failed to break the Serb back at 3-2 in the first set; thereafter, it all went downhill for world number eight.
With a comeback not really on the cards in the second set, the man from Mallorca also needed treatment on his foot; the Serb won effortlessly in what was one of his most comprehensive victories over the rival he has faced the most in his career; his victory on Sunday at the National Tennis Centre in the Chinese capital was never in question.
Meanwhile, in the women's singles final, Spanish rising star Garbine Muguruza, who was Wimbledon 2015 runner-up, defeated Roland Garros semi-finalist, Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 6-4; this was Muguruza’s second WTA title, her biggest to date. She ascended to fourth in the world rankings on Monday.
At the Japan Rakuten Open men singles final, Stan Wawrinka clinched the Tokyo trophy by beating Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-2 6-4. In what was largely a non-contest, the 2015 Roland Garros winner overpowered his younger opponent in just over an hour; Paire, however, came into the match with ankle problems and, because of the injury, has since pulled out of the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament that is played this week.
Wawrinka joins Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer, as the fourth player already qualified for the season-ending Barclays ATP Tour Finals in the O2 Arena in London from 15-22 November.