Rome — Novak DjokovikThe dazzle made it clear how annoyed the 22-time Grand Slam champion was with his opponent.
and it wasn’t just because Cameron Norrie Djokovic had already turned his back and missed a point at the start of the second set in the Serb’s 6-3, 6-4 win on Tuesday, when an overhead smash hurt his left shin.
Djokovic, after reaching the Italian Open quarter-finals for the 17th consecutive year, said there were other examples of Norrie’s poor sportsmanship.
Djokovic also took issue with how his British rival took a medical timeout just before the end of the match.
When asked about Norrie’s angry look after the incident, Djokovic said, “I saw the replays when he hit me. Maybe you can say he didn’t hit me on purpose.” “It probably wasn’t so much about it. … From the beginning, he was doing all the things that were allowed. He’s allowed to take medical timeouts. He’s allowed to hit a player. On’ is allowed to say. ‘ Basically facing every single point from the first game more or less.
“These are the things we players know in the locker room, it’s not fair play, it’s not how we treat each other,” Djokovic said. “He brought fire, and I answered him. I’m not going to allow anybody to treat me like that, just bowing my head. I’m going to answer it.”
Clearly moved by Norey’s behavior, Djokovic produced his best clay-court performance of the year against 13th seed Norey, who was not made available for comment.
Two-time defending Rome champion in the women’s section inga swotek Beat Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4 and the next match will be with the Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina,
Djokovic, aiming for his seventh title on the red clay of Foro Italico, had his overall game clicking after having struggled at times in previous tours and in his last two tournaments on clay.
On a cloudy day after it had rained all morning, Djokovic appeared focused from the start.
“I actually finished my warm-up 10 minutes before I went on the court. So I was a little rushed with everything but we [warm up] due to rain earlier,” said Djokovic. “So I’m happy to overcome today’s challenge in straight sets and move on.”
Djokovic was seen in the trainer’s room before the match, having taken a break from surgery on his right elbow three weeks prior to the tournament.
“Every day is something,” said the 35-year-old Djokovic, without specifying what was bothering him. “But thankfully I was able to play and finish the match, so hopefully it feels a little better tomorrow.”
Djokovic made less than half as many unforced errors as Norrie, 14–29; and two more were winners, 21–19.
Norrie won the title on clay in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Djokovic will lose the No. 1 ranking to Alcaraz after this tournament – even though Alcaraz was beaten 135th ranking by Hungarian qualifier fabian marozson Monday in the third round.
Alcaraz will therefore be seeded No. 1 and Djokovic No. 2 at the French Open, which starts in 12 days.
Djokovic’s next match will be seeded seventh holger rune In a rematch of the Paris Masters final which the 20-year-old Dane won in November. Roon beats Australian qualifier Alexey Popyrin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Djokovic said of Rooney, “He reminds me a little bit of the way he plays.” “Really physically fit, great defence, but great counter-puncher as well. He can hurt you with both forehand and backhand. Really solid serve. Aggressive returns. Just all-around player on all surfaces. “
Roon had reached the final of the Monte Carlo Masters last month.
Djokovic said, “It is going to be a very physical match.
Plus, 2017 Champion alexander zverev won 6-4, 7-5 over JJ Wolf In a match that was suspended on Monday due to rain at 3-3 in the second set.
zverev will play again later Daniil Medvedev In the 15th career meeting between the pair.
Stefanos Tsitsipas annihilated Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 7-6 (3) in another match that started on Monday. Tsitsipas would later play against another Italian, Lorenzo Musettiin the night session.
Musetti rallied past Frances Tiafoe He was also suspended in one match, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
