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World no. 1 and the defending Rome Masters champion Novak Djokovic is through to his 17th Rome Masters quarter-final from as many trips to the Italian capital! Novak took down Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 30 minutes to remain on the title course.
The Serb lost serve once and stole the rival's serve three times to control the scoreboard and emerge at the top. Djokovic grabbed an early break at the start of the clash and produced five comfortable holds to claim the opener in style.
They traded breaks early in the second set, and Novak clinched another at 4-4 to propel himself into the last eight. It was their third match and the third victory for Djokovic, extending his great run against the British players.
Novak tamed his strokes nicely and had the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges. He dominated with his forehand and produced 21 winners and 14 unforced errors.
Novak Djokovic defeated Cameron Norrie in straight sets in Rome.
Norrie stayed on a 19-29 ratio and lost the baseline exchanges against a better-ranked rival to end his run in the fourth round. Djokovic broke a left-handed in the encounter's second game following Norrie's wild forehand.
The Serb held at 15 in game three to cement the advantage and open a 3-0 gap. Novak held at 30 in the seventh game to move 5-2 in front and keep the lead. A six-time champion held at 5-3 to wrap up the opener after 40 minutes.
Djokovic grabbed a break at 2-1 in the second set after Norrie's loose backhand and lost serve for the only time in the next one. Cameron hit Novak with the ball at the net, and the Serb gave him one serious, steady look. The Briton opened a 3-2 gap, and Novak held at 15 for 3-3.
Norrie held in game seven for a 4-3 lead, hoping for more return chances. Instead, Djokovic grabbed the eighth game at love and sent the pressure to the other side. Cameron lost the ground and got broken at love in game nine following a loose backhand.
After the rival's medical timeout, Novak served for the victory at 5-4. Djokovic came from 30-0 down and missed his first match point. The Serb seized the second with a service winner to emerge at the top and reach the quarter-final.