Italian Open 2023 results: Novak Djokovic beats Cameron Norrie to reach quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic criticised Cameron Norrie’s behaviour after the Briton hit him with a smash whereas his again was turned of their Italian Open match.

Djokovic reached his 17th successive Rome quarter-final with a 6-3 6-4 win in a tetchy encounter on Tuesday.

He had already been irritated by the British primary’s shouts of “Come on”, earlier than being hit within the ankle when he had already given up the purpose.

“Those are the things we players know are not fair play,” Djokovic stated.

“It’s not how we treat each other, but it is allowed.”

Having delayed the beginning of the match for a couple of minutes whereas he was within the therapy room, Djokovic wasted no time in racing right into a 3-0 lead earlier than Norrie slowed down his opponent’s cost with a few holds.

The 27-year-old Briton saved three set factors however may do nothing concerning the fourth as Djokovic wrapped up the opener.

Norrie, seeded 13th, went a break down early within the second and instantly broke again – however in controversial style.

Djokovic had already surrendered the purpose when he hit excessive to go away Norrie with an open courtroom to put the ball into and was strolling away when Norrie fired his smash into Djokovic’s left ankle.

Norrie uttered a quick “sorry” and raised his hand in apology, incomes whistles from the gang and an enormous glare from a clearly riled Djokovic.

With circumstances cool and the temper on courtroom even frostier, Djokovic went on to break to love for 5-4.

Having been made to wait at the beginning of the match, it was then Norrie’s flip to maintain Djokovic ready as he obtained therapy on courtroom on his hip whereas the Serb ready to serve for the match.

Djokovic went 0-30 down however resumed his focus as he sealed victory on his second match level to keep heading in the right direction for a seventh Italian Open title, with the pair exchanging a tense handshake and no phrases on the web.

“I have got along very well with Cameron over the years that he’s been on tour. He’s a very nice guy off the court so I don’t understand this kind of attitude on the court,” stated Djokovic, who faces Danish seventh seed Holger Rune within the final eight.

“He introduced the hearth and I responded to that. I’m not going to permit somebody behaving like this bending my head.

“That’s all it’s. What occurs on the courtroom, we go away on the courtroom and transfer on.”

Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev was crushed 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3 by German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann after residence favorite and eighth seed Jannik Sinner fell 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-2 to Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.

Djokovic’s preparation for the French Open has been disrupted by damage however he’s discovering kind in time for his bid for a 23rd Grand Slam singles title when it begins on 28 May.

Djokovic missed the current Madrid Open with an elbow damage and earlier than that had made earlier-than-expected exits from tournaments in Monte Carlo and Bosnia and Herzegovina to go away his clay-court preparations in lower than superb form within the run-up to the French Open.

He and Rafael Nadal each have an opportunity to win a file 23rd males’s main singles title at Roland Garros, however with the Spaniard having been unable to play for the reason that Australian Open in January due to a hip damage neither is a red-hot favorite to win in Paris.

Spain’s US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, who will take over as world primary from Djokovic when the rankings are up to date subsequent week, has been wanting good for a French Open problem after back-to-back titles in Madrid and Barcelona.

However, the 20-year-old suffered a shock last-32 defeat in Rome on Monday by Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan to make his earliest exit in a event since October.

Even if Djokovic wins the title in Italy, he’ll nonetheless lose the primary rating, however he would head to Paris together with his clay season again on monitor.

Against Norrie he was extra assured than within the earlier two rounds, albeit he was helped by the Briton’s unforced error depend which reached 29.

“So far, so good,” Djokovic stated in his on-court interview.

“I’m simply glad to overcome at the moment’s problem in straight units and transfer on.”

He didn’t give particulars about what the problem was that he had obtained therapy for earlier than the match however advised there was no trigger for concern.

“Every day there’s one thing,” he added. “Thankfully I used to be in a position to play and end the match and hopefully tomorrow I’ll really feel even higher.”

Norrie will proceed his French Open preparations subsequent week at a event in Lyon, the place he’s the highest seed.