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March 2, 2013

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Djokovic advances to final in Dubai

NOVAK Djokovic has reached the final of the Dubai Championships, storming past fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6 (4) yesterday.

The top-ranked Serb, bidding for his fourth Dubai title in five years, made the only break of the first set and came from 3-0 down in the second.

Serving at 3-1, 30-40, the Argentine was given a time violation. A furious del Potro then hit a forehand wide to make it 3-2. Djokovic broke again to make it 4-3 only for del Potro to even the set at 5. Djokovic forced the tiebreak which he won.

Meanwhile, defending champion Roger Federer brushed aside former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday and was to face third-seeded Tomas Berdych, who beat Russian wild card Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 6-2, in yesterday's late semifinal.

Federer had little problem with Davydenko, breaking him twice in the first set. The second set was much the same, as Federer jumped out to 4-1 when Davydenko hit a backhand into the net. Federer had two aces and an overhead smash to make it 5-1 and closed it out with a love service game.

The Swiss has a 19-2 record against the Russian, whom he has not lost to in three years.

"I was very happy. Good match for me. I served well from the start," said Federer, who won 84 percent of his first-serve points and had a first-serve percentage of 76 percent.

Federer said he expected a bigger challenge from Berdych.




 

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