World No.1 Novak Djokovic and second seed Roger Federer have entered the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships here.
Top seed Djokovic clearly dominated Andrey Golubey from Kazakhstan before winning 6-1, 6-2 Wednesday, while World No.2 Federer defeated Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-3, reports Xinhua.
"Djoker" as his fans call the Serbian superstar nevertheless paid respect to his opponent, saying after the match that "Andrey played well and strong."
Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Federer met stiff resistance against World No.31 Verdasco at the beginning of the first set. The Spaniard managed to lead 4-1 against the Swiss, but Federer turned the match mostly with his signature play, his strong forehand. Verdasco was in particular weak in his first and second serves.
"I managed to build momentum and reduced mistakes I did at the start of the game," said Federer.
Federer will play Thursday against Richard Gasquet from France, while Djokovic will face Marsel Ilhan from Turkey.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app