Djokovic Advances to Dubai Championships Semifinals

Novak Djokovic rolled back the years with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory over rising Spanish star Carlos Mendez in the Dubai Championships quarterfinals today, demonstrating that his hunger for success remains as fierce as ever at age 38.

The Serbian legend, seeking his sixth Dubai title, controlled proceedings from the opening game against the 22-year-old Mendez, who had been riding a wave of momentum after defeating three seeded players en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Djokovic's experience and tactical acumen were on full display as he neutralized Mendez's aggressive baseline game with precision passing shots and expertly constructed points. The 24-time Grand Slam champion won 85% of his first-serve points and broke Mendez's serve four times during the 78-minute encounter.

It feels great to be back competing at this level, Djokovic said in his on-court interview. Carlos is a fantastic young player with a bright future, but today was about staying disciplined and executing my game plan. The crowd here in Dubai always gives me incredible energy.

Mendez, who broke into the world's top 20 last month, struggled to find his rhythm against Djokovic's varied pace and court positioning. The young Spaniard managed just 12 winners compared to Djokovic's 24, while committing 18 unforced errors in what proved to be a valuable learning experience.

The victory sets up a semifinal clash with fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, who earlier defeated Australian Alex de Minaur in three sets. The Djokovic-Medvedev matchup promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two of the game's most intelligent competitors.

Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 9-4, including victories in their last three encounters. However, Medvedev has shown improved form in recent weeks and will relish the opportunity to test himself against the former world number one on the fast courts of Dubai.

The other semifinal will feature second seed Alexander Zverev against unseeded American Tommy Paul, after both men advanced with impressive quarterfinal victories earlier in the day.

With his movement looking fluid and his serve functioning effectively, Djokovic appears well-positioned to claim another title as he continues his remarkable career resurgence in 2026.