Federer says would be on 'even terms' with Djokovic in Dubai Open semi-final clash

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer has earned a showdown with defending champion Novak Djokovic after reaching the semi-finals of the Dubai Open on Thursday by defeating Czech Lukas Rosol.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner outplayed Rosol, who famously ousted Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012, 6-2, 6-2 in a contrast from with his desperate recovery from within sight of defeat against Radek Stepanek on Wednesday.

According to Sport24, Federer expressed his confidence over the match with the Serb, saying that he believes both he and Djokovic would be on even terms in their match.

Federer leads Djokovic 16-15 in their head-to-head record, but has lost the last three, although the Swiss said that both of them know each other very well as they have played against each other in all the surfaces, adding that both of them play explosive and aggressive tennis.

Hailing Djokovic, Federer said that the world number two has cleaned up his game in all aspects- serves, volleys, movement, anyways, also forehand and backhand.

The report mentioned that Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals more quickly than he would have wished when his Russian opponent Mikhail Youzhny was taken ill and withdrew.

Meanwhile, Tomas Berdych increased his chances of reaching the final for a second year in a row when he overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to post a 6-4, 6-3 win, the report added.