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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, February 25, 2016

 
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic's streak of 17 straight finals ends in Dubai as the world No. 1 retires with apparent eye infection sending Feliciano Lopez into the semifinals.

Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Foresight helped Novak Djokovic reach 17 straight finals. Vision issues snapped the streak today.

The world No. 1 retired with an eye infection after dropping the opening set of the Dubai quarterfinals to Feliciano Lopez, 6-3.

It's the first time Djokovic has retired or withdrawn from a match since 2011. Djokovic was wearing sunglasses when he met with the media after retiring.

More: Kyrgios vs. Wawrinka in Dubai Grudge Match

The infection was apparently caused by a contact lens.





The retirement snaps Djokovic's streak of 17 consecutive finals and sends Lopez into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship semifinals against former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis.




Lopez took the court winless in seven prior meetings with Djokovic.




Baghdatis reeled off 10 of the last 11 games routing Roberto Bautista Agut, 7-5, 6-0, in 96 minutes to reach his first semifinal since Stockholm last October.

The fourth-seeded Spaniard carried a 16-3 record into this quarterfinal, but Bautista Agut completely imploded in the second set. Baghdatis won 14 of 21 points played on Bautista Agut's serve in the second set.

Djokovic, who celebrated his 700th career victory yesterday, was out of sorts from the start today.




The top seed steered a forehand down the line wide, his third forehand error of the game, to face break point in the opener.

Playing a no-pace slice down the middle, Lopez turned his shoulders into an inside-out forehand, surged forward and hit a sweeping swing forehand volley to break for 1-0.

When Djokovic put a weary backhand into net, Lopez had his ninth straight point and triple break point. Djokovic withstood the pressure, found his range and drained errors denying three break points for 1-2.

On the ensuing changeover, Djokovic called for the trainer.

Djokovic gestured toward his eye as if experiencing vision issues. Blinking frequently, Djokovic discussed the problem for a bit then got back to work. When play resumed, Lopez launched an ace down the T holding for 3-1.

The two-time Dubai finalist worked through a demanding deuce hold for 5-3. In the next game, Lopez soared for a beautiful leaping high backhand volley winner, eventually earning double set point.




On second set point, Djokovic spun a forehand long giving Lopez the set. After 33 minutes of play, he walked around the net and shook Lopez's hand.

A few fans jeered as Djokovic walked off, prompting him to pause and try to explain the issue he was experiencing. Djokovic gestured to his eyes, gave the fans a thumbs-up and walked off without the win for the first time in 15 matches this year.


 

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