Novak Djokovic Pulls Out Of Dubai Championships

Novak Djokovic was forced to withdraw from their quarter-final against Feliciano Lopez who has now moved into the Dubai Championships semi-finals. A below-par Djokovic informed the umpire of his decision after Lopez took the opening set 6-3 - but the world No 1 was clearly struggling with an eye condition and could not continue.

Lopez broke in the opening game of the match and Djokovic was forced to see the trainer after three games. Lopez held onto his advantage before a second break in the ninth game gave the Spaniard the first set, before Djokovic's dramatic exit. 

Djokovic a four-time champion in Dubai, had recorded the 700th win of his career earlier in the week but having chalked up 14 victories already this season, he was forced to pull out of the event. Lopez is through to face Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, who was a surprise 7-5 6-0 winner over Spanish fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut earlier in the day.