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ARTICLE Federer sneaks past Ferrero to reach Dubai quarters

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sports Network) - Reigning two-time champion Roger Federer outlasted former titlist Juan Carlos Ferrero on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals at the $975,000 Dubai Open.

The world No. 1 Federer outdueled the former top-ranked Ferrero 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) on the hardcourts at Dubai Tennis Stadium. The top-seeded Federer also needed a third-set tiebreak to beat Czech qualifier Ivo Minar here on Wednesday and was pushed to a third-set tiebreak by Croat Ivan Ljubicic in this past Sunday's title match at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

Federer improved to 5-3 lifetime against Ferrero, as the two stars met for the first time since last year's Australian Open, when the Swiss captured a semifinal bout in Melbourne.

The Spanish Ferrero captured this Dubai event in 2001 and was the runner-up in 2000.

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