Seven-time winner Roger Federer fell to a shock second-round defeat against Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Tennis Championships today ©Getty Images

Seven-time winner Roger Federer fell to a shock second-round defeat against Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Tennis Championships today.

The 18-time Grand Slam-winning Swiss lost 6-3, 6-7, 6-7 at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre, marking his earliest defeat at the ATP 500 event since he was beaten by Great Britain's Andy Murray in the first round in 2008.

Federer made a strong start and appeared to be on course for a straightforward victory, but 116th-ranked Donskoy showed spirited resistance and fought off three match points in the second set tie-break.

The final set seemed to be going Federer’s way as the Australian Open champion built a 5-2 lead, but Donskoy went onto take the following four games before coming from 5-1 down in the tie-break to claim the next six points and seal a memorable win.

"I think maybe it wasn't really committed enough," Federer, whose loss was only his third against a qualifier since 2007, said. 

"Commitment in tennis is a big thing.

"In the first round I was committed.

"Today I wasn't, really."

Evgeny Donskoy is only the third qualifier to beat Roger Federer since 2007 ©Getty Images
Evgeny Donskoy is only the third qualifier to beat Roger Federer since 2007 ©Getty Images

Donskoy revealed that, due to his coach's absence this week, he is being helped by former two-time Dubai finalist and fellow Russian Mikhail Youzhny. 

"It was really tough in the beginning, because it was too much pressure," he said. 

"I mean, I felt it on myself, because it's Roger, and I never even practice with him.

"So it was tough."

There were also surprise defeats today for fifth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.

Two-time finalist Berdych lost 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 against The Netherlands’ Robin Haase, and Bautista Agut was beaten by fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Fourth seed Gael Monfils of France was pushed hard by Britain’s Daniel Evans before prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, while compatriot Lucas Pouille, the seventh seed, eased past Romanian qualifier Marius Copil 6-1, 6-4.

World number one Murray also reached the quarter-finals today after overcoming Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-0.

Next up for the Briton is Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who earned a single break in each set to defeat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4.

The one other last-16 tie saw Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur follow up his win over defending champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland by beating Spain’s Marcel Granollers.

Dzumhur recovered from 1-4 in the second set to take the next five games and secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory.