Djokovic forced to pull out

Novak Djokovic hopes to make a quick recovery after being forced to retire from the Dubai Duty Free Championships yesterday, ending his perfect record this year and a streak of 17 straight finals.

The world No 1, who was playing his first tournament since winning a sixth Australian Open title last month, had lost the first set of his quarter-final against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez before retiring with an eye infection and allergy.

After losing the set 6-3, he told the umpire he was unable to carry on, leaving Lopez to advance to a semi-final against Marcos Baghdatis.

Baghdatis had earlier beaten Roberto Bautista-Agut 7-5 6-0.

Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios set up an eagerly-anticipated clash.

Second seed Wawrinka defeated Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5 6-1.

Kyrgios defeated third seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 despite needing on-court treatment for an apparent back injury.

Today’s semi-final will be the first contest between the pair since their infamous match in Montreal last August, when on-court microphones recorded Kyrgios making remarks about Wawrinka’s girlfriend.

Forced out with an eye problem: Novak Djokovic.