Tomas Berdych will head to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the newly crowned winner of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament after defeating Main Cilic 6-4 6-2 in Rotterdam.

Berdych, who was runner-up in Dubai last year, never looked in danger of losing to his Croatian opponent, breaking early in the first set before comfortably holding serve to take the lead.

The signs were ominous for Cilic in the second set when he was broken in the first game. And any hopes of clawing back into the contest were dashed when world No7 Berdych increased the advantage with a second break of serve.

It was the ninth career title for the new champion, off to his best season start with a 12-2 record.

Berdych had not earned an ATP trophy since Stockholm, October, 2012, 16 months ago. He suffered through 2013 as the only player in the top 10 not to win a title, losing finals in Marseille and Bangkok as well as the aforementioned final in Dubai.

Berdych will now have a week to recuperate before he begins his Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship campaign on February 24.

More to follow...