Dubai, UAE - Novak Djokovic moved to within a match of his first season title as the Serb stormed into a third final of the season 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 over Gilles Simon at the Barclays Championships on Friday.

The top seed will face off against the winner from unseeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Spaniard David Ferrer, the fourth seed who has struck a seam of form this week in the desert.

Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, has improved his career showing at Dubai by one round in each of his three appearances, staring with a 2007 quarter-final and a semi-final defeat last year against Roger Federer.

The world number 3 lifted to 13-4 on the season as he edged ahead 2-1 in his series with Simon.

Djokovic is aiming for the 18th title of his career.

The 21-year-old Serb put constant pressure on Simon in the contest lasting two hours, 44 minutes in temperatures which peaked at 38 Celsius in the heat of the afternoon.

Simon, eighth in the world and a winner of three of his five career titles in 2008, saved nine of a dozen break points he faced while Djokovic lost two serves and saved the only other break point he faced. (dpa)