Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia serves the ball during the singles quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the ATP Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, capital of Qatar, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/ Nikku)

DOHA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won another gruelling battle in Doha on Thursday to continue his unbeaten start to the year and progress to the Qatar Open semifinals.

The Serb came from a set down, just like in his previous match, to beat Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match lasting almost two hours.

Djokovic will play Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday's semifinal, who beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

It was the first time Djokovic has won back-to-back matches from a set down since Cincinnati in August last year, a tournament he went on to win.

Also through to the semifinals is Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic who brushed aside France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-4.

The last semifinal spot went to Italy's Marco Cecchinato who beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 7-6 (7/2), 6-2.