Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won his third consecutive title at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, defeating Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 in Saturday’s final of that hard-court exhibition event.

Djokovic, who is riding a wave of momentum that began at the end of last season, took the contest in just over two hours against an opponent unable to take advantage of numerous chances.

Ferrer ran the hard yards needed to stay even with the world No. 2 in the early going, but the first set slipped away when he dropped his serve in the 12th game.

Djokovic, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles, was more fluid and effective in the second set, however, playing at a level that the scrappy Ferrer was unable to match.

The Serbian finished last season in impeccable form, capturing two ATP World Tour Masters Series 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris and…