Top-seeded Novak Djokovic advances to semifinals of Dubai Championships with walkover win

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut during the third day of the Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) (The Associated Press)

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic moved on to the semifinals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday when quarterfinal opponent Mikhail Youzhny of Russia withdrew because of illness.

Djokovic will next face either fourth-seeded Roger Federer or Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic in Friday's semifinals.