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 The French Open is the only grand slam missing from Djokovic's
otherwise glittering resume, but he has already been installed by
the bookmakers as odds-on favorite for Roland Garros after a
magnificent start to 2016.
Djokovic dropped serve in the first game against Nishikori but it
was pretty much one-way traffic after that as he outclassed the
sixth seed in all facets of the game on the hardcourt at Key
Biscayne.
The 28-year-old Serb took 85 minutes to join American Andre Agassi
as a six-time Miami Open winner.
Djokovic said his first Miami win in 2007 paved the way for a career
that now includes 63 ATP titles.
"It gave me a lot of confidence, a lot of self belief that I can
finally win these big tournaments, finally beat the top players," he
said in a courtside interview.
"Every year I come back to this tournament I get goose bumps from
those days. I was still 19 years old and making my way to the top."
He collected $1,028,300 on Sunday, becoming the sport's all-time
leading money-winner with career earnings approaching $100 million.
It was his fourth consecutive championship, and a record 28th
overall, in the Masters 1000, a series of nine tournaments
considered the most prestigious other than the four grand slams.
"First set was a real battle, but towards the end of the first set I
started serving better... which means a lot in matches like this
against top players," he said of his latest victory.
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It was Djokovic's fourth title of 2016, following victories at the
Australian Open, Qatar and Indian Wells.
His only blemish on an otherwise perfect record so far this year
came in Dubai in February, when he retired during a quarter-final
with an eye infection.
Djokovic will fly home on Monday to Monte Carlo, where he will begin
his clay court season next week.
"I have plenty of energy and lots of motivation for the beginning of
the clay court season that ends up, hopefully, with a crown in Paris
(in June)," he said.
"That’s obviously one of the top goals each year, but I’m not the
only one that wants to win that big trophy. There are many big
events prior to that so I’m hoping I can build my form."
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Ken
Ferris)
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