26 Feb 2009

Struggling Djokovic and hobbling Murray in Dubai last eight

2:33 pm on 26 February 2009

The top-seeded Novak Djokovic struggled while Britain's world tennis number four Andy Murray hobbled into the Dubai Open quarter-finals.

Djokovic is the top-ranked player at the $4 million tournament in the injury-enforced absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

But the Serb had to fight hard before seeing off the Czech world No.66, Jan Hernych, 3-6 6-3 6-4, while the second seeded Murray cruised to a 6-2 6-3 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement despite having an ankle taped.

Djokovic next plays Marin Cilic, the rapidly improving world No.19 from Croatia, and Murray will play Richard Gasquet of France.