DUBAI – Roger Federer remains on course for a fifth title at the Dubai Championships after he downed a battling Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3 6-4 in the quarter-finals. The Swiss player was broken for the first time this week in the opening game of the match, but broke back immediately. He never looked back as his court coverage and precision proved too much for his Ukrainian opponent, who came into the match ranked at 43 in the world and without a win against a player in the top 10. Djokovic also reached the semifinals by beating Florian of Germany 7-5, 6-1 Thursday for his 12th straight win. Berdych beat Philipp Petzschner of Germany 7-5, 6-4 to set a semi-final clash with Djokovic.
