DUBAI: Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the weather-hit ATP Dubai Open on Sunday, defeating Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in a roller coaster of a final.

The match had been held over from Saturday because of heavy rain with defending champion Djokovic 7-5, 2-0 ahead.

At that stage the second seeded Serb had appeared to be coasting to his first ever defence of an ATP title when the first rain seen in the Emirates since early January sent players and fans alike scampering for cover.

But all that changed when the two players got back on court in hot, sunny conditions on Sunday.

Youzhny first of all broke back to level at 4-4 and then, helped by two Djokovic double faults, he put himself into position to serve for the second set.

The frustrated Serb was warned for racquet abuse at the changeover but his display of temper appeared to help him refocus as he broke back in the following game to level at 5-5.

Once again though the Djokovic serve failed to function and he was broken to love on the back of three unforced errors.

This time Youzhny, who beat Djokovic in the Rotterdam semi-finals two weeks ago, made no mistake, holding his own serve to love to level the set scores.

Djokovic regained the initiative at the start of the deciding set, breaking Youzhny's serve with a big forehand down the line in the second game as he moved out into a 3-0 lead.

But once again the Russian dug deep to break back two games later, drawing level once more at 3-3.

Youzhny had a break point to go 4-3 up, but blasted wide with a cross-court forehand as Djokovic looked to be out of the rally.

The Russian paid the full price in the following game when two unforced errors gave Djokovic two break points and he converted the second of those when Youzhny hit a forehand long after an energy-sapping rally.

Djokovic comfortably served out to clinch his first title win of the year and consolidate his world number two ranking behind Roger Federer.