Djokovic takes Adelaide with win over Guiccione

The tournament was played under the ATP's new 32-man round-robin hybrid format. Seven of the eight round-robin group winners - including Djokovic and Guccione - advanced from their round-robin groups with unbeaten 2-0 records.

Djokovic, 19, was contesting the fourth final of his ATP career, which began in 2004. He previously won titles at Amersfoort last July (d. Massu) and at Metz in October (d. Melzer). He was runner-up at Umag in July (l. to Wawrinka). He also reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

Cheered on by a small but enthusiastic group of Serbian supporters who were greatly outnumbered by local Adelaide fans cheering for fellow Australian Guccione,  Djokovic broke Guccione in the first game of the third set and blew open the match with a second break to go ahead 4-1.

Guccione, who served 14 aces, clawed back to be 3-4 down and later had one break point at 4-5 before Djokovic served out the match on his third match point of the game.
The Serb is the first teenager to win an ATP title in the opening week of the season since Lleyton Hewitt (18) won in Adelaide in 2000. Andy Murray, 19, lost in the final at Doha Saturday (to Ljubicic).

Djokovic finished last year as the youngest member of the Top 20 with a career-best ATP Ranking of No. 16. He was making his debut in Adelaide.

Djokovic also is playing in the doubles final Sunday.

Guccione, 21, reached the Adelaide final after first winning through the Main Draw Elimination, then the round robin and later the quarterfinals and semifinals. He has a record of 5-1 so far this year, meaning he already has surpassed his ATP/Davis Cup win total of last year – four.

His five wins this week represent more than one quarter of his 19 career victories (19-12). He didn’t make it past the second round of any ATP events in 2006. But he did win two Challengers – one level below the ATP – in October. Guccione debuted here last year with a first-round exit.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
 
Djokovic: "This is my third title and my fourth final and this is a very special win for me. This has been great preparation for the Australian Open and I head to Melbourne with a lot of confidence. I hope after a couple of days rest I'll be ready for the tournament.
 
"I didn't feel very comfortable during the final and I was struggling a little with my game. He puts a lot of pressure on you because of his big serve and that put pressure on my serve. It got very tight in the end.
 
"I tried to concentrate on returning well and I got a little lucky today."
 
Guccione: "Novak played well and I have to congratulate him, but I'm still a little disappointed I couldn't get it over the line.
 
"I didn't want to rally with him because he is so consistent, so I went for my shots throughout the match.
 
"To win five matches against top 100 players is great and is perfect preparation for me for the Australian Open."   (NOTE: under the round robin system he would have had to win six matches to claim the title. He was a wild card into Main Draw Elimination.) (ATP)