Six-time Internazionali BNL d’Italia champion Novak Djokovic overcame Grigor Dimitrov in three units on Sunday, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, to succeed in the fourth spherical on the 2023 Rome Masters.
The world no.1 led the twenty sixth seed by a set and a break at 6-3, 4-2, earlier than the Bulgarian fought again and broke Novak’s serve twice to take the second set and stage the competition, forcing a decider.
Djokovic, who’s aiming for a record-extending thirty ninth Masters 1000 crown, raised his stage within the third set, and he made a triple break for his 1050th tour-level win.
With the 2 hour, 19-minute triumph, Novak improved his profession ATP H2H document in opposition to Dimitrov to 11-1.
“I used to be very strong. I believe I may have received in straight units,” mentioned Djokovic. “I used to be a set and 4-2 up and had a reasonably first rate forehand in the course of the court docket at deuce on his serve and missed that. He held his serve effectively, we had new balls the following recreation, I double faulted, the group acquired into it and acquired behind him and naturally the vitality of the place and the match modified. I dropped my stage a bit, however fortunately I managed discover it immediately within the first recreation of the third set, made that essential break and shifted the momentum to my aspect, so I’m actually happy with the way in which I closed out the match.”
Match statistics: aces (7-7), double faults (2-6), winners (21-28), unforced errors (10-24), complete factors received (90-74).
Novak goes on to play Cameron Norrie (GBR, 13) on Tuesday for a spot within the ATP 1000 occasion quarter-finals. Norrie beat Marton Fucsovics (HUN) in straight units.
Picture: Profimedia
