Rain halts Dubai final with Djokovic up

The second-seeded Djokovic was leading Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 2-0 when play was stopped after 79 minutes. The final was set to resume Sunday.

After losing serve to Youzhny in the first set, he stormed back to take the first set 7-5 with a break of serve in the 12th game. The Serb then notched the first two games of the second set with another service break before the rains came.

Some saw the delay as benefiting Youzhny, perhaps giving him a chance to regroup.
The Russian was the 2007 runner-up at Dubai to Roger Federer.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is seeking to gain his 17th ATP title.

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