Djokovic battles through to Qatar semi-finals

DOHA, AFP: World number one Novak Djokovic won another gruelling battle in Doha on Thursday to continue his unbeaten start of the year and progress to the Qatar Open semi-finals. 

The Serb came from a set down, just like in his previous match, to beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match lasting almost two hours. Djokovic will play Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday’s semi-final, who beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. 

It is the first time Djokovic has won back-to-back matches from a set down since Cincinnati in August last year – a tournament he went on to win.