Novak Djokovic defeated Serbian compatriot Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 7-6 (6) and set up a Dubai Championships semifinal with Andy Murray Thursday. Roger Federer will face Juan Martin del Potro in the other semi at Aviation Club. Murray advanced by beating fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5. Federer had another routine quarterfinal, beating Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-4. Del Potro ousted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (1), 6-2 for the second time in two weeks. The top-ranked Djokovic, gunning for his fourth Dubai title in a row, broke Tipsarevic twice in the first set. The No. 9-ranked Tipsarevic came to life in the second set, holding his serve throughout and taking a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Tipsarevic missed a set point at 6-5 when he double-faulted, and Djokovic won the next two points. “It's always difficult I guess for both of us. We know each other really well,” Djokovic said. “We both got a little bit nervous toward the end, I guess, and it was just luck to prevail.” Tipsarevic admitted nerves got the better of him in the second-set tiebreaker, but not because he was facing a friend. “Obviously it's like little butterflies in the stomach having the set point on 6-5 in the tiebreak after a one-hour set,” Tipsarevic said. “It's not only against Novak. It would have happened against anyone. Normally you're trying your best on this point. It's just that I tried too much.” Murray had lost his last three matches against Berdych but broke early to take control. Berdych had a chance to break to take the second set to a tiebreaker. A Murray serve was initially called out but overturned on review. Umpire Mohammed Lahyani gave the point to Murray, leaving Berdych angry because he felt the point should have been replayed. Lahyani argued that Berdych had already played his return into the net when the call came. “When the point ends up like this, this is something you don't expect at all,” Berdych said. Murray said he was looking forward to his semifinal against Djokovic. The Serb leads their matchups 7-4, including a five-set semifinal at the Australian Open. Almagro, Verdasco advance In Acapulco, Mexico, two-time champion Nicolas Almagro of Spain defeated Benoit Paire of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Mexican Open Wednesday. Almagro's next opponent will be compatriot Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-4, 6-2. No. 5 seed Florian Mayer of Germany lost 6-4, 5-7, 4-6 to Pablo Andujar of Spain, whose likely third-round opponent will be Ferrer. The No. 7 seed Marcel Granollers of Spain fell 4-6, 3-6 to Santiago Giraldo of Colombia. Giraldo will next face wither Carlos Berlocq or Potito Starace. In the women's tournament, top seed Roberta Vinci of Italy beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 7-5, 6-4 in the second round. The No. 4-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania ousted Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-3, 6-1, setting up a third-round clash with either Magdalena Rybarikova or local wildcard Ximena Hermoso. Qualifier Mariana Duque-Marino of Colombia got past sixth seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
