Tennis ATP Tour: Djokovic Powers Through to Dubai Semifinals in Straight Sets

Novak Djokovic rolled back the years with a commanding performance at the Dubai Tennis Championships, dismantling sixth seed Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-2 in Tuesday's quarterfinal action to book his place in the semifinals.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion looked sharp from the opening game, breaking Ruud's serve early in the first set and never relinquishing control. Djokovic's return game was particularly impressive, as he won 47% of points on Ruud's second serve while facing just one break point throughout the entire match.

"I felt great out there today," Djokovic said in his post-match interview. "My movement was good, my timing on the ball was there, and I was able to dictate play from the baseline. Casper is a tough competitor, but I was able to execute my game plan perfectly."

The victory continues Djokovic's excellent start to the 2026 season, as the Serbian star seeks his first ATP title since his triumph at the ATP Finals in Turin last November. At 38 years old, Djokovic continues to defy Father Time with his tactical brilliance and court coverage that remains among the best on tour.

Ruud, who reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in 2022, struggled to find his rhythm against Djokovic's relentless pressure. The Norwegian managed just 12 winners compared to Djokovic's 21, and was unable to create sustained attacking opportunities against one of tennis' greatest defensive players.

Djokovic will face either second seed Carlos Alcaraz or wild card recipient Andy Murray in Thursday's semifinal. The potential matchup with Alcaraz would be their first meeting since the 2023 French Open, where the young Spaniard prevailed in a five-set thriller.

The Dubai tournament has historically been kind to Djokovic, who has won the title five times previously, including back-to-back victories in 2009 and 2010. With his current form and experience in the desert conditions, he enters the semifinals as the clear favorite to claim his sixth Dubai crown.

The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday evening, with the final set for Saturday night in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to one of the ATP Tour's premier hard-court events.