Djokovic beats Nadal for fourth Miami title

Novak Djokovic, right, shakes hands with Rafael Nadal after winning the men's singles final of the Sony Open at Crandon Tennis Center, Miami, March 30, 2014. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-3. [Photo/Agencies]

Both Nadal and Djokovic were well-rested after receiving walkovers into the final after opponents withdrew from the semifinals, giving the tournament a mouth-watering championship matchup.

The contest featured everything one would expect except from a matchup between the world's best with a title on the line, Nadal and Djokovic trading thundering groundstrokes right from the first point.

But on this day, a confident Djokovic, his game firing on all cylinders, kept Nadal on the defensive ending the drama quickly by winning all the big points.

"I played a few games and a few points with right way, with right intensity," said Nadal. "But for the rest, easy to analyse. The opponent was better than me. That's it.

"He was better than me in everything.

"I feel that I didn't move as well as I do normally. I feel that he was having too much success with every shot."

Both players had one break opportunity in an entertaining opening set and it was the Serb who made his count breaking Nadal to go up 4-2 and then holding serve for a 1-0 lead.

Djokovic quickly put his opponent under pressure, starting the second with a break and that was all he would need with Nadal unable to find a crack in the Serb's armor.

The match ended on another break and a dazzling rally, Djokovic sealing a clinical victory with textbook half-volley, then falling onto his back and punching his hands into the air in celebration.

"I didn't have any letdowns throughout the match," said Djokovic. I was in a very high level: serve, backhand, crosscourt, forehand. I mean, I have done everything right, and I'm thrilled with my performance.

"I did not want to lose focus for a second, because I knew that Rafa is a kind of a player that if you allow him, if you give him a chance, he's going to capitalize, he's going to get that chance, and he's going to come back to the match."