PRO TENNIS ROUNDUP

Dubai Championships

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Novak Djokovic will put his unbeaten record in 2011 on the line against Roger Federer in the final. Federer maintained his dominance over Richard Gasquet with a 6-2, 7-5 victory in the semifinals. Djokovic beat hobbling Tomas Berdych, whose thigh injury forced him to retire while trailing 6-7 (5), 6-2, 4-2. Djokovic will look to make it two in a row against Federer. He defeated the Swiss star in the semifinals of the Australian Open en route to his second Grand Slam title. “I lost maybe three times before that to him,” Djokovic said. “So I don’t think that he will think too much about that match, because he hasn’t lost that often in the last five, six years in Grand Slams. We know each other really well. We know each other’s game. Mostly in last three, four years we had matches in semis or finals. It’s always high stake and big challenge.” The No. 3-ranked Serb has won all 13 matches he has played this year. Federer’s only loss in 15 matches was to Djokovic. The two players have won six of the last eight Dubai titles between them. “He’s been playing well,” Federer said. “Maybe a bit of an up and down performance here this last week, but he’s been playing some day matches, some night matches against some tricky opponents, and that obviously makes it harder. Look, again his class showed. He made it to another final.”

Mexican Open

ACAPULCO, MEXICO

Nicolas Almagro moved within a victory of his third straight ATP title by beating Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (4), 6-4. He will face defending champion David Ferrer or Alexandr Dolgopolov in the final. In the women’s semifinal, Arantxa Parra Santonja defeated Johanna Larsson, 6-2, 6-0.

Qatar Open

DOHA, QATAR

Vera Zvonareva rallied to defeat Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to set up a final against Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki cruised into the final with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Marion Bartoli.

Delray Beach

DELRAY BEACH, FLA.

Janko Tipsarevic beat Ivan Dodig 7-6 (0), 6-1 in the quarterfinals and will face Kei Nishikori in the semifinals. Nishikori moved into the semifinals with a 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Ryan Sweeting.

Associated Press