Roger Federer has set his sights on a return to the world number one spot after demolishing Nikolay Davydenko to capture a third Qatar Open title and 67th career crown.
Federer, who will defend his Australian Open title from January 17, eased past his Russian opponent 6-3, 6-4 and immediately pondered regaining the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal in the opening months of the season.
“Rafa has a lot of points to defend but at the same time he’s very confident,” said Federer.
“It’s going to be really difficult, but if I keep playing at the level I have here, and playing only finals as I have lately, I feel like I have a chance. But I have to keep it up.
“You have to have something special to become world number one. But I’m prepared for that.”
Davydenko, who had been the defending champion in Doha and had knocked out a fever-hit Nadal in the semi-finals, believes Federer has a great chance of taking top spot.
“Federer never played better against me than today. He was fantastic, made so many fast points and was very difficult to play. If he holds to this level for the year he can be number one again for sure,” said the Russian.
Saturday’s win was Federer’s 15th in 17 meetings with Davydenko as he became the first man to win the Qatar title three times after succeeding in 2005 and 2006.
“It feels fantastic,” said world number two Federer.
“I have had a good week. I really appreciate the support I get here. I have had good preparation. I can’t believe that I am on the board already this year.
“This was a strong tournament and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
On Saturday, Federer started superbly, not only because he grabbed an immediate psychological advantage with an early break and a 3-0 lead, but because he launched into heavy pressurising attacks straight away.
He closed out the set with a serve of relaxed power, a drive of easy weight, and a stroll as lazy as though had another two gears in reserve.
Davydenko held more comfortably in the second set and twice unsettled Federer in the sixth game, first driving hard and early enough to force him into sliced defence, and then running down a Federer drop shot and planting it defiantly past the Grand Slam record-holder
But it only got him so far. The crucial thrust came in the ninth game when Federer hit such a crunching backhand winner down the line that Davydenko felt pressured into over-stretching and double faulted for love-40.
Federer took that chance immediately and finished the match without fuss having won 10 points in a row.