Roger Federer dispatched Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday to set up a Dubai Open quarterfinal against Russia's Mikhail Youzhny.
Swiss second seed Federer took 1 hour 15 minutes to beat the Spaniard after a first-round 6-0, 7-6 (6) victory over Michael Llodra.
Youzhny earlier fought past America's Mardy Fish 6-2, 7-6 (0), his first test of the $1.7 million tournament after walking over first-round opponent Richard Gasquet, who retired though injury with the Russian one set up.
Youzhny won the Zagreb Open earlier this month for his first career title since the St. Petersburg Open in 2010.
Meanwhile, Dubai top seed Novak Djokovic defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 7-6 (5), 6-3 for a quarterfinal against fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic, who battled past Flavio Cipolla of Italy 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-1.
