Dubai Open: Looking back at Novak Djokovic's 4 title runs

Novak Djokovic has extended his perfect start to the 2020 season to 14-0 with a straight-sets win over Tunisia's Malek Jaziri in the opening round of the Dubai Open.

Djokovic is fresh off winning a record-extending 8th title at the Australian Open title, having earlier won all 6 of his singles matches for Serbia at the inaugural ATP Cup.

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One of only two players to have triumphed multiple times at the Dubai Open (the other being eight-time champion Roger Federer), Djokovic reeled off 18 consecutive wins here between 2009 and 2012 - the best streak at the tournament, just one shy of Federer's 19.

On that note, let us have a look at the 4 occasions Djokovic was the last man standing in Dubai.

#1 2009: Beat David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3

Djokovic lifted his first title at the Dubai Open in 2009

Making his third consecutive appearance at the tournament after failing to reach the title round in 2007-08, Djokovic produced his first title run at the Dubai Open in 2009.

The then 21-year-old Serb beat Flavio Cipolla, Jan Hernych and Marin Cilic before recovering from a set deficit to down Frenchman Gilles Simon and reach his first final at the tournament.

In the title match, Djokovic conquered David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets to win his first of five titles in the season. In the process, he became the 14th different player to win the Dubai Open.

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#2 2010: Beat Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 5-7, 6-3

Djokovic successfully defended his Dubai Open title in 2010

After a routine first-round win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Djokovic dropped a set in each of his next three matches - against Viktor Troicki, Ivan Ljubicic and Marcos Baghdatis - to return to the Dubai Open final.

The trend of dropping a set continued in the title match against Mikhail Youzhny. Djokovic conceded the second 5-7 before recovering to take a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 win and emulate Federer as the only players to win multiple titles at the Dubai Open.

In an otherwise underwhelming season, Dubai would prove to be one of only two tournaments (Beijing being the other) where Djokovic triumphed in 2010.

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#3 2011: Beat Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3

Djokovic toppled 4-time winner Roger Federer in the final of the 2011 Dubai Open

Having captured his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, a confident Djokovic reeled off successive wins over Michael Llodra, Feliciano Lopez, Florian Mayer and Tomas Berdych to set up a title showdown with four-time champion Roger Federer.

In the pair's second meeting of the season (Djokovic had beaten the then 16-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets in the Australian Open semifinal), it was the younger of the two players who made the brighter start.

Djokovic broke the Federer serve in the third game of the final en route to taking the opener 6-3. Federer failed to hold on to an early break in the second, as Djokovic effected two more breaks to emulate the Swiss himself as the only players to do a three-peat in Dubai.

In a banner season, Djokovic would embark on a 41-0 start to the year and lift Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open among a rich haul of 10 titles. He also became the first player from Serbia to climb atop the ATP singles rankings.

#4 2013: Beat Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-3

Djokovic lifted his 4th Dubai Open title in 2013

In one of his most dominant performances at the tournament, Djokovic did not drop a set in his first four matches in 2013. He saw off Viktor Troicki, Roberto Bautista Agut, Andreas Seppi and Juan Martin del Potro to reach his fourth Dubai Open final in five years.

A straight-sets win (7-5, 6-3) over Roger Federer's semifinal conqueror Tomas Berdych hauled in Djokovic's fourth title at the tournament from as many finals. In the process the Serb also extended his perfect start to the season to 13-0.

Having become the first player in the Open Era to win a three-peat at the Australian Open, Djokovic lifted his 36th career singles title and second of the season with the win over Berdych.

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