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Championships Goes Into Third Week

Rain on Centre Court© Barclays Dubai Tennis ChampionshipsNinety minutes of torrential rain Saturday night, suspended play in the singles final.

Defending Champion leads by a set as Championships goes into third week

Torrential rain, thunder and lightning interrupted the final of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, requiring defending champion Novak Djokovic and seventh seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny to return at 2pm Sunday.

After a tough first set, second seeded Djokovic had gained the upper hand, leading 7-5 2-0, before a second rain break resulted in play being cancelled.

There was little to separate them in the first set, with Youzhny saving a break point with a smash before holding for 1-1, followed by two exchanges of breaks. Youzhny broke to lead 3-2 when Djokovic made a forehand error, but the Serb broke back immediately and then broke again to lead 5-3 by forcing a backhand error from his opponent.

But he failed to serve out the set, double-faulting to set up break point and then netting a backhand. Then, with the set seemingly heading for a tiebreak, Djokovic forced a forehand error on break point at 6-5 to sneak the first set after 63 minutes.

Rain forced the players off court just four points into the second set, and when they returned Djokovic broke to lead 2-0 and then lead 30-15 before the rain returned.

The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free.

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