DJOKOVIC SWEEPS PAST DOLGOPOLOV, PLAYS BERDYCH IN ROME QFS
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who has reached the Internazionali BNL d'Italia final four times in the past five years, was in fine form at the Foro Italico on Thursday.
The 2008 and 2011 titlist booked his place in the Rome quarter-finals after he recorded his 30th match win of the season over Alexandr Dolgopolov in 60 minutes. The Ukrainian is now 3-21 lifetime against opponents in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.
For much of Djokovic’s 6-1, 6-4 win he targetted Dolgopolov’s backhand. He ran through the first set in 29 minutes, losing just two of his 17 first service points, and got off to a good start second set.
Djokovic was forced to save two break points in the sixth game – Dolgopolov’s best returning game – before ultimately securing victory. Dolgopolov, who is now 0-4 lifetime against World No. 1s (0-3 versus Djokovic, 0-1 versus Rafael Nadal), committed 26 unforced errors.
Djokovic will next play sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who extended his perfect record to 8-0 against Kevin Anderson in a 7-5, 6-2 win in 84 minutes. Berdych hit 25 winners and committed seven unforced errors to book his place in the quarter-finals for the fourth time.
