Djokovic to face Del Potro in Dubai semis

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Novak Djokovic remains on course for a fourth ATP Dubai Tennis Championships title after winning the quarter-final and will now meet Juan Martin Del Potro.

The top-seeded Serb swept aside Andreas Seppi on Thursday, extending his winning run to 15 matches with an emphatic 6-0 6-3 triumph over the Italian, booking a last-four showdown with in-form Del Potro in the process.

Djokovic, a winner at the hardcourt event in 2009, 2010 and 2011, is looking to regain the title he relinquished to Roger Federer 12 months ago.

He took a 9-0 head-to-head record into his latest meeting with world No.20 Seppi, however the gulf in class looked much wider when the Serb powered through the opening set without dropping a game.

The Italian at least got on the board early in the second, however Djokovic broke once more to pave the way for another speedy victory.

“I’m pleased that it was an even better performance than in my first two matches and that I’m elevating my level. Hopefully I can sustain that,” the Serb said afterwards.

Del Potro was already waiting in the last four after overcoming German qualifier Daniel Brands 6-4 6-2 earlier in the day.

Defending five-time champion Federer was equally impressive in the evening session, needing just 54 minutes to beat Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 6-2 6-2.

Next up for the Swiss is Tomas Berdych, the world number six from the Czech Republic, who continued his fine form to progress, easily dispatching Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-1 in their quarter-final.