Djokovic retains title to impress his new coach

Serbia’s Djokovic claimed a 7-5 6-2 win over Ferrer, who had beaten fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, to take a third triumph at the event at Zayed Sports City.

Nadal responded from the defeat to beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 7-6 6-3 in the third-placed contest.

It was Djokovic’s first tournament since linking up with new coach Boris Becker, who was in the crowd to witness his new charge’s impressive victory.

“I’m very satisfied with the way I played,” said Djokovic.

“I have to say I’m really glad to have Boris joining our team.

“It’s great we’ve started by winning this trophy here. Hopefully, we can continue like this during the year.”

n Grzegorz Panfil overcame a rankings gap of 277 places to shock world No 11 Milos Raonic 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 to hand Poland a surprise 2-0 victory over Canada on the second day of the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Agnieszka Radwanska had got the Poles off to a hard-fought 1-0 lead with a 6-3 6-7 (9-7) 6-2 triumph over Eugenie Bouchard.

Earlier, the Czech Republic had made a perfect start against Spain in Western Australia with world No 6 Petra Kvitova and veteran Radek Stepanek easing to their respective victories before they combined for a mixed doubles triumph.

Kvitova needed just 57 minutes to beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1 6-0 while Stepanek beat world No 194 Daniel Munoz-De La Nava 6-2 6-2.

The result gave the Czech Republic an unassailable 2-0 lead over Spain ahead of the mixed doubles rubber which Kvitova and Stepanek won 6-3 6-4.

n British No 3 Heather Watson defeated Jarmila Gajdosova 6-4 6-4 to advance to the main draw of the Brisbane International.

The Guernsey-born 21-year-old, ranked 121 in the world after a troubled end to the 2013 season during which she battled glandular fever, broke her Slovak-Australian opponent six times during the 92-minute final-qualifying match.