World no.1 Novak Djokovic won over the 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer 6-2, 6-1 at the World Tennis Championship exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

The 24-year-old Serb twice broke the world number three Swiss in the first set and reeled off nine straight games to help seal a 44-minute win.

Djokovic easy dispatched of Federer, has shown a glimpse of the form that saw him finish last season with a 70-6 win-loss record.

Meanwhile, world no.2 Rafael Nadal was defeated by compatriot David Ferrer. Nadal, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2010, was nursing the sore shoulder he plans to rest in February.

“I knew before coming here that I was not ready to win a match against David Ferrer, not to win a match against Djokovic or Federer,” stated Nadal.

“But I am ready to spend hours on court without risk of injury. That is the most important thing. I need this transition, hours of practice.”

Djokovic will play Rafael Nadal’s conqueror, David Ferrer, while Federer faces Nadal in a play-off for third place on Saturday.