Holder Medvedev cruises into Dubai Open semi-final

Daniil Medvedev is on course to defend his Dubai Open title after cruising into the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-3 win against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Medvedev, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in last month's Australian Open final, broke the Spanish world number 24 four times in total and will play France’s Ugo Humbert for a place in Sunday’s final.

Fifth seed Humbert, who knocked Andy Murray out in the second round, saved three match points in the second set before overcoming Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6 (8) 6-3.

Andrey Rublev faces Alexander Bublik in the other semi-final, with both players progressing after their opponents retired in their respective quarter-finals.

Russia’s world number five Rublev was leading Sebastian Korda 6-4 4-3 when the American was forced to withdraw and Kazakhstan’s Bublik was up 6-4 4-1 against the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, who also succumbed to injury.

DUBAI OPEN RESULTS