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Rublev saves five set points to help Dubai win as Djokovic advances

Top-ranked By defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-3, Novak Djokovic breezed into the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships.

AP – DUBAI, United Arab Emirates After a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor on Wednesday at the Dubai Championships, top-ranked Novak Djokovic breezed into the quarterfinals.

A day after being defeated, Djokovic neatly extended his winning streak to 19 games.

pushed by 130th-ranked Tomas Machac into a third-set tiebreaker.

To remain unbeaten this season, the 35-year-old Serb defeated Griekspoor, who was rated 39th, four times. Djokovic’s second match following his victory in his

10-time Australian Open champion.

After overcoming a hamstring issue in Australia to win his record-tying 22nd Grand Slam singles championship, the five-time Dubai champion took a few weeks off.

To advance to the semifinals, Djokovic must first defeat Hubert Hurkacz or qualifier Pavel Kotov.

Also Wednesday, defending champion Andrey Rublev produced a 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) comeback win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.