Novak Djokovic Advances to Dubai Championships Semifinals in Straight Sets

Novak Djokovic continued his impressive start to the 2026 season, advancing to the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinals with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev on Saturday evening at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

The 38-year-old Serbian legend showed no signs of slowing down, breaking Rublev's serve three times while never facing a break point on his own serve. Djokovic's precision and court coverage were reminiscent of his peak years, as he controlled the tempo throughout the 87-minute encounter.

"I felt very good out there tonight," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "My movement was sharp, my serve was working well, and I was able to dictate most of the rallies. Andrey is always a tough opponent, but I managed to stay focused and execute my game plan perfectly."

The match was decided by Djokovic's ability to neutralize Rublev's powerful forehand, often drawing the Russian out of position with subtle drop shots and precise angles. The turning point came in the seventh game of the first set, where Djokovic saved two game points before breaking Rublev's serve with a stunning cross-court backhand winner.

Rublev, who had been in excellent form leading up to the quarterfinals, struggled to find his rhythm against Djokovic's defensive mastery. The world number six managed just 12 winners compared to Djokovic's 24, and committed 18 unforced errors in a frustrating evening for the Moscow native.

The victory sets up a semifinal clash between Djokovic and either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Holger Rune, with their quarterfinal match scheduled for Saturday night. Djokovic, who has won the Dubai title five times previously, will be looking to claim his first ATP title of 2026 and continue building momentum ahead of the upcoming Indian Wells Masters. The Serbian's resurgent form has tennis fans excited about the prospect of another deep Grand Slam run at the French Open and Wimbledon later this year.