Djokovic, Wawrinka enter Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarterfinals

Doha, Qatar: Novak Djokovic had to withstand the stiff challenge of world No. 36 Marton Fucsovics to ensure his progress with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Wednesday.

The world No.1 had breezed through his opener on Tuesday, but Hungarian Fucsovics came up with a good fight, especially in the first two sets.

Fucsovics broke the two-time Qatar ExxonMobil Open champion twice and served six aces to his opponent’s five, but Djokovic regained his composure after taking his eye off the ball in the second set to storm through the third and pocket the match in two hours.

Djokovic had no problems admitting he got lucky against Fucsovics.

"He was a better player for two sets and no doubt I managed to break his resistance, I would say, towards the end of the second set. And I got lucky obviously in the set point which to have that challenge on my side and that has kind of been a turning point in the third set. I just think he dropped his level a little bit and I managed to get on top of him," said the 31-year-old.

Djokovic will take on Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarterfinals after the fifth-seeded Georgian sent last year's runner-up Andrey Rublev packing (6-3, 6-4).

Djokovic said he was expecting a tough battle in the quarters.

"I think he plays quite similar to Fucsovics except he hits the ball harder, faster. He is in great form in the last four or five months," said Djokovic. "We're going to play third match which is late at night and I expect another battle, you know. He moves well. As soon as he has a short ball, both backhand and forehand, he is hitting flat and making a lot of winners and so you have to be constantly on alert with him."

Earlier, Stan Wawrinka defeated Chilean Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to book his berth in the quarterfinal.

Wawrinka will take on Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1, 6-4 in the last 16.

Ricardas Berankis, who stunned David Goffin in the first round, was stopped by Dusan Lajovic in the second, the Serb winning 7-6 (7-4), 0-6, 7-5.

Lajovic will take on Marco Cecchinato in the quarterfinal after his opponent Guido Pella withdrew because of low back pain.

Tomas Berdych rallied to beat Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to book a quarterfinal meeting with Pierre-Hugues Herbert after the Frenchman eased past Maximilian Marterer 6-1, 6-4.