Djokovic retires from Dubai Open, ends streak of 17 successive finals

Novak Djokovic’s run of 17 successive Tour finals came to a grinding halt when he was forced out of the Dubai Open on Thursday.

The World No 1 was playing his quarter-final against Feliciano Lopez and was a set down (3-6) when an eye problem rendered it difficult for him to go any further in the match and he had to retire.

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Spaniard Lopez will now face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the semi-finals.

Image: Serbia's Novak Djokovic receives medical attention on court during his Dubai Open quarter-final against Spain's Feliciano Lopez at the Dubai Duty Free Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday

Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images