Defending champion Novak Djokovic through to semi-final in Dubai

Defending champion Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to beat Ivan Ljubicic 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships

In the first match of the quarter-finals, number six seed Marin Cilic squandered a break and a set point before Austrian World number 31 Juergen Melzer clinched the first set, taking the tiebreaker 10-8. Melzer matched Cilic throughout the second set and then picked up a break point as the Croatian served to stay in the match at 6-5 down. Cilic then hit a backhand long in the next rally, handing Melzer a 7-6, 7-5 win.

Number seven seed Mikhail Youzhny converted two of his three break points on way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic. The Russian advances into the Dubai semi-finals for the fourth time in his career with Melzer the man he must now beat.

Elesewhere - Defending champion Novak Djokovic took on Ivan Ljubicic. The Number two seed was far from his best in the opening set, which Ljubicic took 6-2. Djokovic rallied and broke the big serving Croat in the ninth game of the second set on way to taking it 6-4. He then reeled off three successive breaks of Ljubicic's serve in the third set and sealed a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory.

And Marcos Baghdatis triumphed against Michael Berrer after two sets that both went to tiebreakers.

The Cypriot will meet Djokovic in the semi-final.