LONDON - Novak Djokovic capped off a phenomenal autumn by defending his ATP World Tour Finals title with an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over Rafael Nadal in a duel between the two dominant players of the season on Monday night. Brian Moorman Bills Jersey . Theres no doubt Djokovic is the man to beat on indoor hard courts. And just for the record, his 22 consecutive wins to finish 2013 matched top-ranked Nadals best stretch of the year. Djokovics winning run started after a U.S. Open final defeat to Nadal, and during a span when the Spaniad replaced him atop the rankings. "The most positive thing that I can take from those 2 1/2 is the fact that I managed to regroup after a few big losses against Nadal, especially in Roland Garros, U.S. Open final and Wimbledon final," said Djokovic, who became the seventh player to win the elite season-ending tournament at least three times. His victory in London denied Nadal the only big trophy missing from his glittering CV. Having produced one of the most memorable comebacks in tennis, Nadal lost in a deciding match for the second time at the tour finals and missed the chance to join Andre Agassi as the only players to have won all four Grand Slams, Olympic gold, the Davis Cup and the year-end tournament. "Its not going to change my career, winning or losing today," Nadal said. "I am not very disappointed. I know that I was not the favourite for the match, even if I tried with the right attitude, in my opinion, fighting for every moment, trying to be positive in every moment, even if the match was not going the way that I would like." Mondays defeat was a strong warning to Nadal, who overhauled Djokovic for the No. 1 ranking last month, that his Serbian rival will be ready to extend his form into next years Australian Open, where he is the three-time defending champion. Djokovic has now beaten Nadal 10 times in 19 finals and is unbeaten since losing at the U.S. Open in September. "After the US Open final, of course, I needed to take things slowly and see and analyze what I did wrong, especially in the matches against him, to understand what I need to do in order to win against him," Djokovic said. "I think the results are showing that we had a great improvement in the last 2 1/2 months." Djokovic returned superbly from the start to move his Spanish rival around the court and prevent him from dictating the points. Nadal, playing on his less favourite surface, hit only nine winners and was broken three times. "If I can say about one thing that makes the difference in todays match was the serve — I didnt serve well, he served well," Nadal said. "So in this kind of court, first shot is very important, and he did that first shot much better than me." Nadal return to the No. 1 ranking came on the back of a stunning comeback from a career-threatening knee injury. Since returning in February, the Spaniard has won 75 matches —losing only 7 —to win 10 titles including the French Open, the U.S. Open and five Masters 1000 events. But Djokovic proved again that he still has the upper hand on hard courts by extending his head-to-head winning record to 13-7 on that surface against Nadal. "Year-end No. 1 is deservedly in Nadals hands because he had two Grand Slam wins, the best season out of all players, the most titles," Djokovic said. "I think thats no doubt, cannot question that. I tried to put aside the calculations and the rankings after U.S. Open and just tried to focus on one tournament at a time, one day at a time. That kind of attitude has helped me to get to where I am at this moment." Djokovic made an impressive start, hitting powerful groundstrokes to keep Nadal well behind his baseline while limiting his own mistakes. Returning well, the Serb made the most of two of Nadals backhand errors to break in the second game. He had another chance in the fourth game after Nadal double-faulted, but was unable to convert. Nadal got into the match from that point. He put Djokovic under pressure with his huge forehands in the next game and two unforced errors from the Serb allowed him to break back and then level at 3-3. But Nadal faltered in his next service game as he served a double-fault at 30-30. After a stunning exchange, Djokovic broke for 5-3 following a series of volleys at the net. Standing in the middle of the court, the Serb opened his arms and screamed as the crowd erupted in cheers. Djokovic sealed the first set with an ace. Appearing supremely confident, Djokovic raised his game further in the second set, pinpointing his shots on the lines to make life more difficult for Nadal after breaking in the third game of the second set. The resilient Spaniard saved two match points and kept encouraging himself until the end, but a final forehand too long gave Djokovic the title. Djokovic will now focus on the Davis Cup final later this week in Belgrade, where he will lead Serbia against defending champion Czech Republic. Robert Woods Bills Jersey . A noon downpour turned the 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit into a slippery strand of roadway, but Bourdais proved to be the best on rain tires. The French driver made it through the first two qualifying rounds and into the Fast Six. E. J. Manuel Jersey . Blake Griffin had 27 points and eight rebounds, Chris Paul added 19 points -- including a go-ahead layup in the final minute -- and the Clippers beat the Hawks 109-108 on Saturday night for their season-high seventh straight win. "In the locker room, I almost felt like we lost the game, because we expect a lot from themselves," Paul said.STANFORD, Calif. -- Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron might hear it from every angle if they were paying any attention or had a moments spare time. They could be reminded every day that this is the first time since 1990 the U.S. heads to a World Cup with no central defenders having played previous minutes in soccers showcase event. And that makes an already daunting task in Group G much more challenging for the Americans, who face Ghana, Portugal and Germany next month in Brazil. The competition for spots on the Americans back line is fierce, leaving no time to analyze the groups inexperience. "For us, theres nothing we can do about it," Besler said before Sundays training at Stanford Stadium. "We cant change the fact that weve never experienced a World Cup. Were looking at it as a great opportunity. Weve never done it before but everyone is excited and really hungry to prove that we belong here and that we can do well." Nobody knows how the foursome will look for the teams World Cup opener June 16 against Ghana in Natal, yet coach Jurgen Klinsmann will get a glimpse during an exhibition against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night at Candlestick Park. He has several choices for each defensive spot. If there are concerns with Omar Gonzalez, who tweaked his left knee during a May 3 game with the Los Angeles Galaxy against Colorado, Klinsmann might go with Cameron in the middle alongside Besler. Gonzalez has since returned to full training. "I think the competition is healthy, and its definitely alive and well here," Gonzalez said. "Before I got injured, I was probably the fittest Ive been in a very long time." Cameron plays right back for Stoke in the Premier League but insists he only needs a couple of reps at centre back in practice, scrimmages or exhibitions to find a groove again. "When youre playing against Man United, Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham, youre playing all the big boys every single weekend against the best competition, theres no room for mental errors, theres no complaining about how tired you are or this or that because the games come so quick," Cameron said. "For me, it was a learning process the first year. As the second year comes, you get more comfortable, youre confident going into the other stadiums." Besler, the 27-year-old Sporting Kansas City star who was the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year, has played in the middle with both Cameron and Gonzalez. Cameron and Besler very well could start in the centre back spots for the opener. Fabian Johnson or Timmy Chandler might play right back, though Johnson said he has seen regular time there. "I played right back in all the scrimmages so Im ready for this position," Johnson said Sunday. DaMarcus Beasley could be on the left as he looks to become the first American to play in four World Cups. "It iis different playing with different guys. Erik Pears Bills Jersey. Everyone has different styles," Besler said. "I think as a team we play the same but when you have different guys back there you have to make little adjustments depending on whos back there. But for me I have experience with both. Ive played in World Cup qualifiers with Geoff, with Omar. I feel comfortable with anyone, really." If midfielder Jermaine Jones is suspended at some point for accumulation of yellow cards, Klinsmann might call upon Johnson in the defensive midfield. While experience on the defence would certainly be preferred at this stage, goalkeeper Tim Howard will help everyone get up to speed. "All things considered, of course youd like to have some guys back there who understand the rhythm and the pacing and the difference of a World Cup," said Alexi Lalas, a starting U.S. defender for the 1994 World Cup, former MLS general manager and current analyst. "This decision was made a long time ago, regardless of the final personnel, you knew you were going to have some World Cup inexperience out there. And we still dont know how the back four is going to look. "With that being decided and the veterans no longer being part of the scene, it was about getting some sort of understanding, communication and comfort with the defence. Thats really a much more important piece considering theres not going to be World Cup experience." Cameron is considered a central defender by Klinsmann. "Ive said that over three years I think his best position is centre back," Klinsmann said. "And its good to know he can play right back, too, and its good to know he can play a No. 6, too. Still I think his best fit, his best game for himself is the centre back role." Klinsmann isnt making a big deal about the teams lack of experience. Only five players among the 23 have appeared in a World Cup. "The plan is to help them in that process, to get in that World Cup with a lot of confidence and being sure that they know what theyre doing. In every training session we will work on those pieces and we will guide them through all the different things that happen during a game, preparing the best way possible for the opponents they face in the group stage already," Klinsmann said of the defence. "Im sure theyre going to be very well prepared and they will be ready for the task. Theres always a first time in life in whatever you do. Its for some the first World Cup, though its the first of hopefully many World Cups to come for them. Im not worried about the inexperience." NOTES: Landon Donovan, cut by Klinsmann on Thursday, broke the Major League Soccer goal record Sunday night. He returned to the LA Galaxy to score his 135th and 136th regular-season goals in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union. cheap jerseys from chinacheap jerseys ' ' '
