Federer to face Djokovic in his 126th ATP Tour final in Dubai
- Published
Roger Federer will meet world number Novak Djokovic in his 126th Tour final in Dubai on Saturday after cruising to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Borna Coric.
Teenager Coric, world ranked 84, never reached the heights of his 6-1 6-3 shock win over Andy Murray in the previous round.
"I never thought I would play that many finals," said 33-year-old Federer.
Serbian Novak Djokovic beat the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych 6-0 5-7 6-4 in the other semi.
Federer, who has reached his seventh Dubai final, stormed into a 2-0 lead in the opening set only to lose his own serve with a double fault and netted forehand.
Normal service was resumed as the 17-time Grand Slam winner pounced on the Croatian's brittle serve to break twice more to take the set.
Federer surged 5-1 up in the second set as a half volley pulled Coric out wide and the 18-year-old could only scuff his effort into the net.
He wrapped it up with ease, charging the net yet again as Coric thumped a forehand long.
"I felt like after five games I knew more or less what to expect and I realised what had worked until that point and what had not," the Swiss added.
Djokovic looked set for an equally comfortable win over Berdych when he raced through the opening set 6-0, only to lose the second, despite breaking Berdych when the fourth seed initially served for the set at 5-3.
A second break of serve gave Berdych the set 7-5, but Djokovic bounced back to take a hard-fought decider 6-4 with a single break of serve.
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