Business as usual as Djokovic reaches 10th successive quarter-final

Novak Djokovic, playing his first tournament since his deportation from Australia, continued his fight to keep his number one ranking with a convincing 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Karen Khachanov in Dubai to move into his 10th consecutive quarter-final on Wednesday.

The Serbian top seed, who has not lost before the last-eight stage at any tournament since Monte Carlo 10 months ago, must at least reach the semi-finals in the Emirates to stand a chance of stopping Daniil Medvedev from replacing him at the summit of the rankings.

Medvedev is competing in Acapulco this week and is guaranteed to end Djokovic's world number one reign if he clinches the title.

There are other scenarios however that could allow Djokovic to extend his 361-week at at the top, should Medvedev falter in Mexico, but the Serb must at least make it to the final four in Dubai.

Djokovic followed up his opening round win over Lorenzo Musetti with a fifth victory in six meetings with Russian world number 26 Khachanov.

The five-time Dubai champion needed one hour 38 minutes to overcome Khachanov and set up a quarter-final against Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely, who knocked out Spanish eighth seed and last week's Doha champion Roberto Bautista Agut.

"I thought the atmosphere tonight in the stadium was terrific," Djokovic told a capacity crowd in Dubai that included his son Stefan and his former coach Boris Becker.

"It was equally good support for both Karen and me and for us as tennis players travelling around the world, this is what we play for, this kind of atmosphere, this kind of passion from the people that come to watch us, so I want to thank you from my heart.

"I missed it (competing) obviously, this is my life, this is what I've known to do and I still keep on