Spain’s Bautista Agut through to Abu Dhabi final after Novak Djokovic pulls out of semi-final

SPANIARD Roberto Bautista Agut is through to the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after semi-final opponent Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament with an elbow injury.

Bautista was meant to meet the 12-time Grand Slam winner in the semi-finals of the event on Friday, before it was announced that the Serb has withdrawing from the tournament due to “pain in his right elbow.”

The Spaniard will now play a one-set exhibition match against Andy Murray in place of the semi-final.

Djokovic, who is now a doubt for the Australian Open, posted on twitter: “I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Classic. Thank you all for your support.”

I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Classic. Thank you all for your support ? https://t.co/2ZhtrADXzl

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 29, 2017

In his previous round, Spaniard Bautista Agut defeated Russian startlet in Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

The 29-year-old raced into a 5-2 lead in the first set, but had to be resolute against the young Russian as he fought back to take the set to 5-5, before Bautista Agut managed to secure the set 7-5.

20-year-old Rublev struggled to handle the World Number 20 in the second set, as Bautista went 3-0 ahead early, and went on to win the set 6-2, progressing  with a 7-5 6-2 victory.

He will now face the winner of the semi-final between Dominic Thiem and Kevin Anderson in tomorrow’s (Saturday) final.