DUBAI (AFP) - Novak Djokovic, playing his first tournament of the year following his deportation from Australia, eased into the Dubai ATP quarter-finals on Wednesday (Feb 23) with a straight sets win over Karen Khachanov.

World number one Djokovic downed the 26th-ranked Russian 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) and will face either last week's Doha champion Roberto Bautista Agut or Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely for a place in the semi-finals.