Dubai final opponent Novak, 'a huge obstacle' for Federer

Roger Federer earned a chance of regaining one of his titles, and an early revenge upon Novak Djokovic, by reaching the final of the Dubai Open yesterday

Roger Federer earned a chance of regaining one of his titles, and an early revenge upon Novak Djokovic, by reaching the final of the Dubai Open yesterday.


Roger Federer

Federer, without a Grand Slam title for the first time in eight years, overcame Richard Gasquet, the gifted Frenchman who once beat him as a teenager, by 6-2, 7-5 to earn a second meeting with Djokovic inside four weeks.

It was the Serbian who beat the Swiss maestro last month in Melbourne before making off with his Australian Open title, and it is Djokovic who holds the title here as well.

"It's a huge obstacle to play Novak," admitted Federer, who may nevertheless have been encouraged by Djokovic's struggles in getting past Tomas Berdych. Djokovic survived by a scoreline of 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 4-2, 30-love retired.

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