Novak Djokovic Beats Gasquet for Estoril Title

Djokovic improved to 2-0 in career meetings with Gasquet. The pair first met in the ATP Masters Series Madrid second round in October 2006.

“I would like to congratulate Richard for reaching the final," Djoko said afterward. "On the court he is a great player and you can really expect a lot from him in the future. I knew it would be a very difficult match against him especially on this surface."

It was the youngest final in the 18-year history of the Estoril Open.

The 19-year-old Djokovic leads the ATP circuit with a 31-6 match record this year, which includes a 6-1 record on clay courts with titles in Adelaide (d. Guccione) and ATP Masters Series Miami (d. Canas). Djokovic was also runner-up at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells (l. to Nadal). He improves to 5-2 in ATP finals.

Gasquet held the upper hand in the opening set of the final, holding two set points on the Djokovic serve at 5-5 and one further set point at 6-5.

The 20-year-old Gasquet also squandered three set points in the tie-break at 6-4 and on serve at 7-6.

Djokovic wrapped up the first set in one hour and 16 minutes.

Gasquet won the second set for the loss of seven points in 23 minutes.

He won just 11 of 36 points in the final set, as Djokovic broke serve in the second and fifth games to secure his first Estoril Open title on debut.

“I don’t know it was a strange match because there are three matches in one," Gasquet said. "I can tell because in the first set, I am playing good, he is playing good too and it’s a great match."

Gasquet, who was appearing in his first ATP final since winning the Lyon title in October 2006, falls to 22-9 this season. He notched his 100th ATP-level victory over Max Mirnyi of Belarus in the second round on Tuesday.

With the runner-up effort Gasquet is projected to rise to No. 13 in the ATP Rankings on Monday.