Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of defending champion Novak Djokovic's meeting with Feliciano Lopez in the last 16 of the Dubai Championships.

GAME, SET AND MATCH DJOKOVIC! Lopez not getting the time to brandish his forehands. Getting backed up with the pace and direction of Djokovic's serve and groundstrokes as the score reaches 30-15. Lopez empties a forehand into the net and Djokovic brings up two match points. The number two seed is wide on the first one, but his opponent hits the net during a rally in the next point. Djokovic is through to the quarter-finals.

Lopez holds serve. Had to hold there otherwise he was on the plane home to Spain. Might still be unless he breaks in this game. Should be Djokovic's match after this set. He serves for the match and a place in the last eight.

Both men grunting and scrambling to reach the winning post. Djokovic calms the nerves with an ace and a couple of big first serves. Heavy serving from Djokovic. Lopez must hold in this game to stay in this match.

BREAK TO DJOKOVIC! A marathon rally at 30-30, but Djokovic's defensive play works a treat as he claws out the point he needs to bring up the break. He can't convert as an overhead from Lopez is walloped beyond his opponent for a winner. Lopez refusing to go away as he converts another winner at the net to save a break point seconds later. Djokovic with a smile on his face as he brings up advantage. He wins the next one with a thumping forehand. He leads 4-3.

BREAK TO LOPEZ! Djokovic falls two break points down in the sixth game. Saves one with an ace, but misses the backhand down the line as Lopez breaks back. The patience of Lopez in these rallies is causing the defending champion no end of bother. We are back on serve.

Lopez keeps in touch. The Spaniard last reached the final in 2008 when he lost to Andy Roddick. He has shown glimpses of his class in the second set. He continues to search for the break that he needs to stay in this match.

That two-handed backhand of Djokovic is eveident as he bludgeons a winner across the court to leave Lopez toiling. The power really beginning to tell on anything Lopez leaves short. Another love service from Djokovic.

Lopez not going away. He holds to love, but he is needing a break. Still serving and moving well, but Djokovic has went up a few gears in the last couple of games.

A love service game from Djokovic and suddenly he is back in control. The momentum of this match changed in the second set, but Lopez has failed to maintain his superiority. Will need a big effort if he is going to clamber out of this hole. The pace of Djokovic's groundstrokes making all the difference.

BREAK TO DJOKOVIC! The number two seed makes his charge at the start of this set. He breaks at the outset of the third set. That was more like it from the Australian Open champion. A lot more like it. Lost concentration in the second set, but seems to be back at his optimum level.

SET TO LOPEZ! Some real moments of concern for Djokovic as he somehow misses an overhead smash when level at 30-30. Lopez hunts down the ball in the next point to force the second break as Djokovic is long with an attempted lob. One set all. We head for the decider.

Lopez showing no signs of flinching. Djokovic struggles to pass his opponent, who is getting more success at the net. Lopez up to six aces in the match now. Djokovic will serve to stay alive in the second set.

A quickfire response from Djokovic as he holds serve with minimal problems. That was more like his play in the first set. Is still a break down, but that was more assured serving from Djokovic.

Lopez choosing his time to come to the net. A couple of bullets on the forehand and backhand side with a winning volley dropped into the mix sees Lopez protect his break. He leads 4-1 in the second set. Djokovic must wait for his chance to break.

Djokovic suddenly growing frustrated after being so dominant. He battles back from trailing 15-30 on his serve, but a backhand flies wide as the score reaches deuce. Lopez is wide with a sliced groundstroke on the next point before a probing first serve stops the bleeding. Lopez leads 3-1 with the break.

Lopez sends a stinging forehand down the line. He is 3-0 ahead in the second set. What a turnaround! Lopez winning 10 points on the bounce, and two games to love. Djokovic needs to regroup quickly. He has lost momentum.

BREAK TO LOPEZ! Out of nowhere, Lopez brings up three break points. He needs only one and Djokovic is broken to love. A lack of concentration was clearly evident, but Lopez will take this all night long. He serves with a break.

A double fault at 15-30 sees Lopez come under more strain. Djokovic tries a lob on the next point, but he is wide of the mark. Djokovic slightly unlucky in that game, but Lopez will take what is going at the moment. He leads 1-0 early in the second set.

SET TO DJOKOVIC! All so predictable. Djokovic in the box seat in this set and this match. Lopez manages to claim two points in that game rather than the standard one, but he is toiling to live with Djokovic in the rallies. He drops a groundstroke into the net and he is one set down.

Lopez keeping himself alive in the set by holding serve, but Djokovic will serve for the opening set. Unless there is a massive change, it is difficult to see Djokovic dropping serve.