Djokovic edges through to Dubai final

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:21

Top seed Djokovic was pushed to the limit by Gilles Simon before eventually triumphing 3-6 7-5 7-5 in a match that lasted two hours and 44 minutes.

Ferrer, meanwhile, brushed aside the challenge of unseeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the fourth seed easing to a 6-2 6-2 victory.

World number three Djokovic, who has had an indifferent start to the season, was on the back foot from the beginning of the first set on Friday as Simon took an early lead.

But the Serbian fought back well, breaking in the 12th game of the second set to level. Third seed Simon went a break up in the decider but Djokovic again battled back and he sealed another break, and victory, with a smash.

Djokovic and Ferrer have met each other six times before and are currently tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head record.

Their last meeting came in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last year, when Djokovic brushed aside the Spaniard in straight sets before going on to take the title.

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