Djokovic and Federer Inch Closer to Semifinals Clash in Dubai
Roger Federer battled back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Radek Stepanek at the 2014 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3. Federer will next meet Lukas Rosol, who overcame the eighth-seeded Dmitry Tursunov, 6-4, 7-6(4).
Radek did a good job of putting the pressure on me and mixing it up. From that standpoint, it was a really difficult match. I'm very pleased to come through,” said Federer.
Novak Djokovic advanced as well in Dubai, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Roberto Bautista Agut in under one hour. Up next for Djokovic in the quarterfinals is Mikhail Youzhny, who defeated wild card James Ward, 6-1, 7-6(3) earlier in the day. A win over Youzhny means not only a trip to the Dubai semis for Djokovic, but also the 550th career win for the Serbian.
“I have done really well today from the first to the last point,” said Djokovic. “There was no major ups and downs, especially with the serve that helped me to win comfortably my service games, a lot of free points.”
Third-seeded Tomas Berdych also moved into the quarters, defeating Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-2, 6-1 to face the fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga was a walkover winner over Nikolay Davydenko who was forced to withdraw with an injury to his ribs.
Also in the quarters is Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri, who advanced by defeating Somdev Devvarman, 6-3, 7-5. Jaziri will look to keep rolling in Dubai as he will meet the seventh-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber, who defeated Andrea Seppi, 6-3, 6-3.
