- Title: TENNIS-DUBAI/REACTIONS (O) Federer lauds rivalry with Djokovic after 20th win
- Date: 28th February 2015
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (FEBRUARY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) ROGER FEDERER ENTERS NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM CLOSE VIEW TROPHY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROGER FEDERER SAYING: "Well, I don't think we have actually to adjust our games very much against one another which I think is nice as well. We play our game and then the better man wins." REPORTER FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROGER F
- Embargoed: 15th March 2015 12:00
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- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2NU7M9F4CG24WIQ0SSMWQJNKH
- Story Text: Roger Federer rates his rivalry with Novak Djokovic as highly as his duels with Rafa Nadal, the Swiss said after beating the Serb to win a seventh Dubai title on Saturday (February 28).
It was their 37th meeting and Federer's 6-3 7-5 victory means he leads the series 20-17.
"Well, I don't think we have actually to adjust our games very much against one another which I think is nice as well. We play our game and then the better man wins," he told reporters after beating Djkovic in straight set.
Federer trails Nadal 23-10 with their last meeting more than a year ago at the Australian Open.
Djokovic got the better of Federer to win last year's Wimbledon title, but world number two Federer has begun the year in impressive fashion, bagging two titles.
The Swiss, currently number two world in the world, said he has grown to love playing in Dubai where he has now matched his record at Halle and Wimbledon.
"I had something to prove after that I guess that is what got me (back) to winning ways here in Dubai and then every since then I fell in love with the tournament and the crowd and the city here," the 33 year old said.
"So, the seventh is quite unbelievable when I hear people talking about it and announcing me as the seventh time or six time winner here in Dubai."
Both players said they were looking forward the first round of the Davis Cup from March 6 and next stop of the hardcourt season in Indian Wells, starting on March 25.
Djkovic said he was pleased with his performance despite the defeat.
"I am happy with the result here and moving now into Davis Cup and of course hardcourt season Indian Wells in Miami which is going to be tough,"
"I look forward to it, I actually feel good about how I play and how I feel physically and motivated. So, I just hope I can continue to maintain that level of high performance throughout the season," said the 27 year-old Serbian. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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