Monday 30 / December / 2024
Dubai [UAE]: The world number one Novak Djokovic maintained his strong record at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday, soaring into the quarter-finals for the 12th consecutive time.
The World No.1 has lifted the trophy in Dubai five times and continued his 2022 title bid with a dominant display against Karen Khachanov, downing the Russian 6-3, 7-6(2) in one hour and 38 minutes at the ATP 500 event. Earlier, Jannik Sinner denied Andy Murray his 700th career victory when he defeated the former world number one 7-5 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
Sinner, who had saved three match points against Davidovich Fokina in the first round, was never under any serious pressure from the 2017 champion and didn't face a break point, although it took until late in the first set for him to gain an advantage. Fourth-seeded Sinner did hold two break points at 2-2, but it wasn't until the pair were tied at 5-5 that he made his breakthrough by breaking Murray to love before serving out for the set.
Sinner then made the better start to the second set, breaking again to lead 1-0 and, as Murray grew increasingly angry at his failure to reverse the momentum of the contest, Sinner took a commanding lead by breaking again to lead 4-1.
Second seed Andrey Rublev also advanced to the quarter-finals, but he was challenged well by Soonwoo Kwon before winning 4-6 6-0 6-3.
He will face Mackenzie McDonald for a place in the semi-finals after the American followed up his first-round victory over defending champion Aslan Karatsev by defeating Filip Krajinovic 6-4 7-6.
