DUBAI: Top-seed Novak Djokovic lifted the fourth Dubai Tennis Championships title after defeating third-seed Tomas Berdych 7-5,6-3 in the final at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Saturday.

The world number one from Serbia needed an hour and 34 minutes to clear the final hurdle between him and the trophy. He took $429,600 in the prize money.

Extending his match winning streak to 18, the three-time Australian Open winner, who didn’t drop the set in the entire tournament, had to dig deep in the first set.

Czech Republic’s Berydch broke Djokovic’s serve in the fifth game of the first set when the game levelled at 2-2. The Serb got the break later at 4-3 when the world number six from Czech struck a volley into the net. Djokovic later converted two break points to pocket the set 7-5.