Russia’s third seed Daniil Medvedev defeated top seed and five-time Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships titlist Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, to reach the final of the ATP 500 outdoor hard-court tournament.

Novak remains on course to win his sixth Dubai title following a straight sets victory over fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday. The top seed recorded a 6-3, 7-5 win in one hour and 21 minutes, extending his record in 2023 to a perfect 15-0.

World no.1 improved to a perfect 13-0 record in 2023, following a hard fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 victory over Czech qualifier Tomas Machac in two hours and 27 minutes. The top-seeded Djokovic goes on to face Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands on Wednesday (H2H 1-0, ATP #39).

Four weeks after lifting the record-extending 10th Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at the Australian Open, Nole is set to return to court. The five-time former champion and world no.1 returns to action in Dubai where he won the ATP 500 event in 2009-11, 2013 and 2020.

Novak and Daniil met for the 11th time in a highly anticipated semi-final match at the Astana Open on Saturday. The two players were level at one set apiece, 4-6, 7-6 (6), when the second seed decided to pull out due to a leg injury.

Novak powered into his sixth semi-final of the season on Friday by defeating Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3 at the Astana Open. The top seed now leads the Russian 7-1 in their ATP H2H series.

Novak Djokovic recorded a 6-3, 6-1 victory against world no. 34 Botic Van De Zandschulp on Thursday to advance into the last eight at the ATP 500 event in Astana, Kazakhstan. Number 4 seed will face Karen Khachanov (RUS) in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Novak will compete at the ATP 500 event in Astana as a wild card entry. The Serb is a fourth seed and will face world no.81 Cristian Garin (CHI, H2H 2-0) in the first round.

The top seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships failed to reach semi-finals of the ATP 500 event on Thursday. Novak suffered a 4-6, 6-7 (4) loss to world no.123 Jiri Vesely (CZE, Q). As a result, the Serbian star will fall to no.2 in the ATP Rankings on Monday for the first time since February 2020. Djokovic has spent a record 361 weeks at the summit of men's professional tennis.

Novak withstood the challenge of world no.26 Karen Khachanov to prevail 6-3, 7-6 (2) in their second round encounter at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The top seed goes on to play qualifier Jiri Vesely next (CZE, ATP #123).