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.

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).

In his first match of the 2022 season, a convincing display from Nole. He beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in 74 minutes to reach the 2nd round at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The top seed faces Karen Khachanov (RUS) next.

Nole will be bidding for a sixth crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (2009-11, 2013, 2020). The tournament celebrates its 30th anniversary. The top seed faces world no.57, Italian Lorenzo Musetti (WC, 1-0 H2H), in what will be his first match of the season.

Novak defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to claim the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy for the fifth time. It is the 79th title of Djokovic’s illustrious career, and second in 2020.

Novak rallied from a set down and saved three match points en-route to a 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-1 win over third seed Gael Monfils. He will face Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE, 2) in Saturday's final.