Djokovic storms into Dubai title decider

Serb beats Del Potro in straight sets to enter 55th ATP final.

World number one Novak Djokovic defeated Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in straight sets to qualify for the Dubai Open final yesterday.

The impressive Serb downed Del Potro by 6-3, 7-6(4) to mark entry into the 55th ATP final of his career.

The Argentine, however, showed some resistance in the second set after saving a match point at 5-3 and breaking the world number one in a game later to take the match into a tie-breaker. But Djokovic rose to the challenge once again to claim a fairly comfortable win in one hour and 44 minutes.

Djokovic, who has yet to lose a match in 2013 and retained his Australian Open title last month, was ecstatic with his performance.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve done in my career so far,” said Djokovic of his 55th ATP final feat, according to Sport360. “It’s definitely been successful.”

Ferrer, Nadal reach Acapulco semi-finals

Meanwhile, former world number one Rafael Nadal breezed through to the semi-finals of the Mexican Open on Thursday, dispatching Argentine Leonardo Mayer in straight sets 6-1, 7-5.

Tournament top-seed and defending champion David Ferrer also reached the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi.

It was another routine victory for the 11-time Grand Slam champion, who is in the midst of a three tournament comeback after a knee injury forced him to take a seven-month hiatus from the tour.

“I’m enjoying playing tennis again,” Nadal told reporters. “When you are recuperating there are always going to be bad days, but right now there are more good days than bad.”

Earlier this month Nadal made the final of the VTR Open in Chile, and followed that by claiming the Brazil Open title.

Since returning to competition on February 5 in Santiago, Nadal has stuck to clay court events that are easier on his still-recovering left knee.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2013.