Federer, Djokovic Move Into Quarter-Finals At Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Top seed Novak Djokovic and a stylish Roger Federer reached the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Djokovic defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1 7-6(7-4) and Federer overcame Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4.

Djokovic took charge right from the start, breaking his opponent’s serve in the first game and dominating right up until when he served for the match at 5-3.

The Spaniard then staged a late fightback, breaking Djokovic and then saving four match points before levelling at 5-5 in a marathon 24-point game.

"I think I played really, really well and a high level throughout most of the match," said Djokovic. "And then I had another poor game like yesterday towards the end when I needed to close it out.

"(At) 5-4 he served well, he fought his way through, and I have to give him credit for that. But generally I’m feeling quite confident on the court, which is a good thing."

Federer’s road to victory was a little smoother. Just one break of serve decided the opening set as the number two seed broke at love to lead 4-2.

Federer then broke to lead 3-2 in the second set but had to fight off a total of three break points in his next two service games before securing victory. Still, he felt more comfortable than he had in his first round match.

"I think I was sharper today," said Federer. "I had a more clear plan now. I knew what I could and couldn’t do. I was a bit more confident overall. I knew what I wanted to do and I was able to do it, so I’m happy."
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Tomas Berdych earned a 7-5 6-1 victory over Tobias Kamke, but the number three seed had to overcome an early onslaught, fighting off two break points to hold serve for 1-0 and another two to hold for 2-1. Then, despite breaking to lead 4-2, he dropped his own serve in the next game.

Berdych broke serve again to lead 5-3 but he failed to serve out the set, and he was also unable to win two set points on his opponent’s serve at 5-4. Eventually, at 6-5, he took the set on his sixth set point.

The second set began the same way as the first with Berdych having to save two break points, and after taking a 2-0 lead he had to hold off a further break point to hold for 3-0 before finally coasting to victory.

"I was struggling a bit with the conditions, because it’s still kind of my first days here," said Berdych, who contested the Marseilles final on Sunday. "Even though I had a match yesterday it was yesterday night, and always the night matches help, you know, when you come and transition from indoors to outdoors."

Juan Martin Del Potro had needed to save three match points in his previous match but this time he enjoyed a far more comfortable 6-4 6-4 win over Somdev Devverman.

"I think I played better than yesterday," said Del Potro. "I was solid with my serve, and I make few mistakes with my backhand. On my forehands, when we make the rallies on the baseline I played solid.

"I didn’t lose my serve during the match. That gives me confidence for my next match tomorrow."

Russian eighth seed and two-time former finalist Mikhail Youzhny, after struggling in his opening match, was beaten 6-4 6-4 by qualifier Daniel Brands.

The German held seven break points in the opening set but broke just once to lead 5-4 with the aid of two double faults, and Brands broke again with his third break point of the second set to lead 1-0.

Although Youzhny levelled at 2-2 he dropped his serve again in the following game and Brands went on to claim the match by dropping just three points in his last three service games.

Nikolay Davydenko followed up his win over sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic by beating Victor Hanescu 6-4 7-6 (7-2), seventh seed Andrea Seppi beat Lukas Rosol 6-4 7-6(7-4) and Dmitry Tursunov defeated Michael Llodra 7-6(7-5) 2-6 6-3.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which continues until 2nd March, is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament phone the call centre on +971 4 4172415.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Feb 27, 2013

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