captured his first World Cup gold medal

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Roger Federer won a record sixth Dubai Championships -- and 78th career title -- by beating Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final on Saturday. Bruins Jerseys 2020 . Federer, who maintains a home in Dubai, delighted a packed stadium of fans who seemed biased for the Swiss in back-to-back wins over Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and Berdych. "Things definitely went my way out here tonight," Federer said. "Ive had a lot of tough matches in the last year and a half so it was nice to get a lucky break again." The victory was hard fought as Federer lost the first serve and his serve in the second to trail 3-2. Federers win, his sixth here in the last 12 years, extends his record of winning at least one title a year to 14 consecutive years. This is Federers first tournament victory since winning in Halle, his only title of 2013, last spring. Federer improved his record over Berdych to 12-6 with the win. The last time they played, however, Berdych beat Federer in the Dubai semifinals last year. "Hes the greatest player of all time and hell never give up and give you anything for free," Berdych said. "I knew that and thought I was ready for it, but my execution wasnt good enough to hold it to the end." The loss ended Berdychs longest winning streak of his career at 11 matches. In the first set, the fourth-seeded Federers forehand looked shaky and he appeared a step slow. After exchanging early service breaks, the third-seeded Berdych snared the go-ahead break in the sixth game. On a second break point at 30-40, Federer netted a backhand to lose serve. In the second set, there was another early exchange of breaks. From 4-4, Federer won the final eight points of the set to even the set score. "Everything happens very, very quickly and I was looking for better serving because thats what let me down the most in the beginning, getting broken three times in five, six service games," Federer said. Both players had break opportunities in the first two games of the third set -- Berdych three and Federer one -- but each held. Federer secured his way to victory when he broke Berdych on a second break point in the fourth game. The Swiss faced two break points on his serve in the seventh game but held on for 5-2. Berdych was able to save two Federer match points on his own serve in the eighth game. But the Czech couldnt stop Federer from serving out. On Federers third match point at 40-15 in the ninth game, Berdych netted a backhand return. "The match started pretty well and I had many chances," Berdych said. "Its very disappointing for me the way I handled that situation." Bruins Jerseys 2019 . American Lindsey Jacobellis was third, while Japans Yuka Fujimori finished just off the podium. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., earned bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games and is set to return to the Games this February in Sochi, Russia. Boston Bruins Gear . It will then be back to business once the puck drops as the two clubs battle for key points in their respective playoff races. Watch the game live on TSN Canadiens and listen on TSN Radio 690 starting at 7:30pm et. https://www.cheapbruins.com/ . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders.CALGARY -- Jamie Gregg went blade-to-blade with the reigning world and Olympic champion at the opening World Cup speedskating event of the season. And while the Edmonton skater earned bronze in the mens 500 metres, he was agonizingly close to standing higher on the podium. Gregg was paired with Tae-Bum Mo of South Korea, this years world champion in the distance. The two men played cat-and-mouse to start the race. Mos opening strides were quicker, but Gregg caught him at 100 metres. Their finish seemed a dead heat, but Mo actually edged Gregg by three thousandths of a second. Ronald Mulder of the Netherlands knocked Mo out of gold-medal position two pairings later in a time of 34.41 seconds. Mos time was 34.52.3 ahead of Greggs 34.52.6. Gregg will race another 500 on Sunday at the Oval and aims for a medal upgrade. "Every World Cup, including this one, in Calgary Ive won a medal so Im happy with that," Gregg said. "Theyve all been bronze so I want to make it a little better than that. Im always getting beat out by the thousandths in Calgary." Greggs bronze was Canadas lone medal on the first day of racing. He lost speed to the South Korean on the turn coming into the home stretch at the Olympic Oval. "You go into the year not really knowing who is going to go fast," Gregg said. "You see some times, but now everyone is at the World Cup and everyone has peaked, so you get to see where you are in the world a little bit. "To know that Im up there with even a less-than-ideal race, it gives me lots of confidence going forward." Sang-Hwa Lee of South Korea won the womens 500 in 39.91 seconds, which was .11 off her world record. Claudia Pechstein of Germany was the winner of the womens 3,000 metres in three minutes 59.04. Koen Verweij of the Netherlands took the mens 1,500 metres in one minute 42.78 seconds ahead of runner-up and world-record holder Shani Davis of the U.S. in 1:43.11. Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., was the world champion in the 1,500 two years ago, but broke his leg cross-country skiing midway through last season. Morrison says his leg his fully healed, but hes race rusty and finished 11th in a time of 1:44.42. "If you would have talked to me after a race like this in 2009, I would probably hardly have talked to you guys and probably would be freaking out throwing things around the change room," Morrison told reporters. "That doesnt help anything. All I can do is be motivated by what happened and use that to help me focus on what I need to do next. I dont think its discouraging. I know I have a few things to work on. Im pretty sure I can identify what they are already." The Essent ISU World Cup continues Saturday with another womens 500 metres, the mens 1,000 metres and the womens 1,500 metres. Olympic 1,000-metre champion Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., will race that distance Sunday. The speedskaters can gain Olympic berths for their countries at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, during the first four World Cups of the 2013-14 season. Boston Bruins Store. Canada could take a maximum of 20 skaters to Sochi in February, but has to earn those spots through World Cup results. Nesbitt was 13th and Marsha Hudey of Regina 19th in the womens 500. Winnipegs Brittany Schussler and Ottawas Ivanie Blondin finished 13th and 16th respectively in the womens 3,000. Saskatoons Lucas Makowsky was 17th in the mens 1,500. William Dutton of Regina was 15th in the mens 500. Gregg is the son of former Edmonton Oilers defenceman Randy Gregg and two-time Olympic speed skater Kathy (Vogt) Gregg. His sister Jessica is a short-track speedskater who won Olympic silver in the relay in 2010. Jamie Gregg was eighth in the 500 in 2010. The 28-year-old captured his first World Cup gold medal in 2012 in Berlin. Hes Canadas heir-apparent to Jeremy Wotherspoon in the 500 metres, although Wotherspoon is attempting a comeback and intends to race at Olympic trials this winter. "Ill step into that role," Gregg said. "We have a lot of young guys coming up and Jeremy is also coming back to try and take it back from me so Ive got to fight him off as well. I love the competition. We have some really fast guys." Wotherspoon and Gregg are in-laws, as Gregg is married to Jeremys sister Danielle Wotherspoon. Speed Skating Canada will hold Olympic trials in late December and early January in Calgary, but some countries will choose their Olympic speedskaters based on their results at World Cups. Pechstein says shes qualified for her sixth Winter Games because of her victory in the 3,000. The 41-year-old wants a 10th Olympic medal in Sochi. Shes won five gold, two silver and a pair of bronze in an Olympic career that started in 1992 in Albertville, France. Pechstein did not race in Vancouver. The International Skating Union banned her for two years in 2009 based on irregularities in her blood, although she hadnt tested positive for illegal substances. The most successful German Olympian fought her sanction in both the Court of Arbitration for Sport and in Swiss federal court, but was not allowed to race in Vancouver. Pechstein was the 5,000 metre champion in 2002 and would have competed against Canadas Clara Hughes, the 2006 Olympic champion. Hughes won bronze in Vancouver. Pechstein resumed winning world championship medals in 2011 after serving her suspension. She is currently suing the ISU for loss of income. "When I get a victory, its good for me and I think the ISU doesnt like it," Pechstein said. "Its also good motivation for me. "For me, I can go so relaxed. I never used doping, never used any illegal things. This I know. This is a nice comeback with this today and last season and two years ago too. For me, I can stand up every morning and look in the mirror and Im clear. This is the important thing." ' ' '