Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sports Network) - World No. 1 and three-time
champion Novak Djokovic and five-time titlist Roger Federer moved into the
quarterfinals at the $1.785 Dubai Tennis Championships.
The Australian Open champion Djokovic extended his unbeaten streak to 15
matches with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over game Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut
in 1 hour, 30 minutes on the hardcourts at Dubai Tennis Stadium. Djokovic
broke his opponent four times, while Bautista Agut settled for only one break
in a predictable defeat.
The Serbian stalwart Djokovic, who captured this Dubai event three straight
years from 2009-11, will meet seventh-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi on
Thursday. Seppi got past big-serving Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) on Day
3.
Meanwhile, the second-seeded former world No. 1 Federer leveled Spain's Marcel
Granollers 6-3, 6-4, as the Swiss icon is eyeing a trip into an eighth Dubai
finale. Federer is the reigning champ, having beaten Andy Murray in last
year's marquee championship match.
Federer's quarterfinal opponent will be former world No. 3 Russian Nikolay
Davydenko, who handled Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) on Wednesday.
In other action involving top stars, third-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up
Tomas Berdych saved 12-of-14 break points in downing German Tobias Kamke 7-5,
6-1 and fourth-seeded former U.S. Open champ Juan Martin del Potro dismissed
Indian Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 6-4. Berdych was last week's runner-up in
Marseille, while the menacing Argentine del Potro was a titlist in Rotterdam
two weeks ago.
Up next for the Czech slugger Berdych will be Russian wild card Dmitry
Tursunov, while del Potro will face German qualifier Daniel Brands in the
round of eight.
In other second-round action on Wednesday, Brands upended eighth-seeded
Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-4 and Tursunov tripped up French left-hander
Michael Llodra 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3. Youzhny is a two-time Dubai runner-up
(2010, 2007).
The Sports Network