Youzhny to face defending champion Djokovic

Dubai: Defending champion Novak Djokovic will take on Russian challenger Mikhail Youzhny in the singles final of the 2010 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Saturday.

Djokovic kept up his pursuit of becoming only the second player after Roger Federer to successfully defend a title here with a laboured 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 win over Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, after Youzhny had squirmed his way past Austrian Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 7-6 (4) earlier in the day.

Djokovic has barely managed to survive here, rallying from a set down in his matches against Viktor Troicki and then Ivan Ljubicic in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Friday’s fight was even more gallant as he clawed his way back from a set and break down to win. "I was just fortunate for the third time in-a-row here," Djokovic admitted. "I am not playing my best tennis, but I am ready to fight all the way and defend my title here," he added. "For quite some time in my life I have never defended a title, and I hope that is tomorrow."

Youzhny, on the other hand has had a smoother run winning in straight sets in his last two matches putting him in pole position to become only the first Russian champion in the 18-year history of this tournament. The previous best from a Russian was in 2001 when Marat Safin retired while trailing Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Youzhny has been in blistering form as he makes his second final since the past two weeks. In Rotterdam last week, he beat Djokovic in a gripping quarterfinal, and only a hamstring strain made him stop against Robin Soderling the next day in the final.

Youzhny's best showing here is a final in 2007 where he lost to four-time Dubai winner Federer. In his nine appearances, the Russian has also reached the semifinals here on two occasions – in 2004 and 2006.

Meanwhile, one of the two finalists in the doubles was known earlier on Friday after Paul Hanley and Simon Aspelin got past the hard-working Spanish duo of Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (12). They will meet the winner of the second semifinal that was to be played later on Friday between third seeds Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy and the unseeded pair of Christopher Kas and Dick Norman at 5pm.

Results:
Singles: Mikhail Youzhny bt Jurgen Melzer 7-5, 7-6 (4); Novak Djokovic bt Marcos Baghdatis 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles: Simon Aspelin/Paul Hanley bt Feliciano Lopez/Tommy Robredo 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (12).

Saturday’s Order of Play

Centre Court:
Doubles final: (5 pm) Feliciano Lopez/Tommy Robredo OR Simon Aspelin/Paul Hanley vs Christopher Kas/Dick Norman OR Lukas Dlouhy/Leander Paes
Singles final: (7 pm) Mikhail Youzhny vs Novak Djokovic.