Baghdatis into Dubai semi-final

Dubai - Marcos Baghdatis set up a potential semi-final match with Novak Djokovic by beating fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 6-0 Thursday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The 57th-ranked Baghdatis will next face either Djokovic or sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez.

Nick Kyrgios, who is making his debut at the Dubai tournament, also advanced. The Australian beat third-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4 despite having to have treatment on his back in the first set.

Kyrgios also beat Berdych en route to winning his first career title in Marseille last week. The two played at the Australian Open last month, with Berdych winning.

In the semi-finals, Kyrgios will play either second-seeded Stan Wawrinka or eighth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber.