Indian Wells, California  - Holder Novak Djokovic swept through the first set and struggled in the second before consolidating his Indian Wells Masters title defence campaign with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) defeat of Tommy Haas on Tuesday.

The Serbian third seed finally prevailed over the one-time number 2 from Germany - now ranked 64th - in an hour and three-quarters.

Djokovic is bidding for his second title of the season after winning a fortnight ago in Dubai but losing both of his Davis Cup rubbers against Spain.

Indian Wells, California  - Defending champion Novak Djokovic continued to rebuild his fragile confidence with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Argentine Marcel Vassallo Arguello to move into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday.

"This year hasn't started maybe the way I thought I would, but now I've raised my confidence in a higher level," said the 2008 Australian Open champion who won his first title of this season a fortnight ago in Dubai.

"Winning there meant a lot for my confidence level and for my game overall."

Dubai, UAE  - Novak Djokovic gave his confidence a huge boost on Saturday as he tuned up for next week's Davis Cup tie with Spain with a trophy at the Barclays Championships 7-5, 6-3 over David Ferrer.

The Serb top seed said that prior to the upcoming challenge on clay in front of a Spanish crowd of 15,000 in Benidorm, he feels his game is lifting after securing his first title of a slow-starting 2009 season.

Djokovic won an event which was decimated by late withdrawals, including former winners Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Dubai, UAE  - Novak Djokovic overcame a patchy effort littered with breaks of serve before lifting his first title of 2009 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over David Ferrer at the Barclays Championships on Saturday.

The Serb world number 3 improved to 4-3 against Spain's scampering Ferrer, the second finalist from his nation in as many years at the Aviation club after Feliciano Lopez lost in 2008 to Andy Roddick.

The match was a preview of next weekend's Davis Cup World Group tie in Spain.

Dubai, UAE - Novak Djokovic moved to within a match of his first season title as the Serb stormed into a third final of the season 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 over Gilles Simon at the Barclays Championships on Friday.

The top seed will face off against the winner from unseeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Spaniard David Ferrer, the fourth seed who has struck a seam of form this week in the desert.

Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, has improved his career showing at Dubai by one round in each of his three appearances, staring with a 2007 quarter-final and a semi-final defeat last year against Roger Federer.

Melbourne  - Former great Patrick Rafter has voiced his doubts about the desire of deposed Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic after the Serb's retirement during his quarter-final with Andy Roddick.

During a television match commentary, the double US Open champion and one of the most popular of the former Aussie players, had his say about the increasingly controversial Djokovic.

Rafter said that the 21-year-old had a history of "pulling the pin" (with four retirements in Grand Slam matches).