Dubai Tennis Championships

Melzer stuns Cilic to reach semi-finals

ESPN staff

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Jurgen Melzer knocked out Tommy Robredo in the second round © Getty Images

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Sixth seed Marin Cilic was another big name to tumble at the Dubai Tennis Championships, falling in straight sets to Jurgen Melzer. World No. 9 Cilic joins Andy Murray, Nikolay Davyenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the casualty list, while Melzer moves into the semi-finals.

The Austrian produced an impressive performance to win 7-6(8) 7-5. Cilic made an early break to go 4-1 up, but Melzer battled back, breaking Cilic twice ton win four games on the trot to take a 5-4 lead, but serving for the set, Cilic broke back to force the opening set to a tie-break, which Melzer triumphed 10-8.

The second set stayed with serve until late in the set, and the world No. 31 secured a crucial break of serve to take the match and move into the semi-finals, where he will meet Mikhail Youzhny who beat Andy Murray's victor Janko Tipsarevic in straight sets.

The No. 7 seed didn't drop a service game as he moved comfortably past the Serbian 6-3 6-4. A single break of serve in each set was enough to seal a place in the semi-finals for the Rotterdam finalist.

Novak Djokovic came from a set behind for the second day in a row to beat Ivan Ljubicic in three sets to book his place in the other semi-final.

Novak Djokovic overcame plenty of frustration to beat Ivan Ljubicic © Getty Images

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Djokovic toiled in the early exchanges against Viktor Troicki on Wednesday, citing the dip in light towards the end of the day as the reason for his upturn in form. Just 24 hours on, the elements worked in Djokovic's favour again as he kicked into gear at the vital time to defeat Ljubicic 2-6 6-4 6-0.

Ljubicic served seven aces and showed plenty of authority from the baseline as he broke Djokovic twice in the first set, leaving the world No. 2 to curse towards the Dubai sky. However, Ljubicic crucially wasted two further break points in the second game of the second set, allowing Djokovic a platform on which to mount a comeback.

Capitalising on his first break opportunities of the entire match at 5-4 in the second set, Djokovic levelled at one set all thanks to an inaccurate Ljubicic forehand. And with the momentum swinging significantly in his favour, Djokovic set about building an eight-game winning streak that led him to victory.

Djokovic will face Marcos Baghdatis after the Cypriot overcame Michael Berrer 7-6(5) 6-1 in the last semi-final of the day. Baghdatis rifled down 11 aces and never allowed his opponent one break point in a very accomplished display.