Stat of the Day: 12 Dubai appearances, 12 Dubai quarterfinals for Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic kept the wins coming in his first tournament of the year in Dubai on Wednesday, defeating former Top 10 player Karen Khachanov in the second round of the ATP 500 event, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

And with that win, he keeps an impressive stat going: he’s now reached the quarterfinals or better in all 12 of his career appearances in Dubai.

If he beats Czech left-hander Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals on Thursday, that’ll make it the semifinals or better in 10 of 12 career appearances.

DJOKOVIC’S CAREER RESULTS IN DUBAI
~ QFs in 2007 (l. to Federer)
~ SFs in 2008 (l. to Roddick)
~ Won in 2009
~ Won in 2010
~ Won in 2011
~ SFs in 2012 (l. to Murray)
~ Won in 2013
~ SFs in 2014 (l. to Federer)
~ F in 2015 (l. to Federer)
~ QFs in 2016 (ret. vs. Lopez w/eye problem)
~ Won in 2020
~ QFs in 2022 (plays Vesely tomorrow)

Djokovic has now also reached the quarterfinals or better at 24 of the 25 ATP 500 events he’s played since ATP 500s became an official level of tournament in 2009.

His only pre-quarterfinal loss at an ATP 500 event in that time came at Barcelona in 2018, where he fell to Martin Klizan in the second round, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.

He’s also reached the quarterfinals or better at 28 of the last 29 ATP 500-level events he’s played, including 2007 and 2008 (they were called ATP International Series Gold events then), and 29 of 32 overall in his career dating back to 2006.