Nole will play in his tenth quarter-final on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Friday.
Prime seed Novak Djokovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-3 within the third spherical, avenging his loss to the Italian in the identical stage of the competitors 12 months in the past.
The world’s top-ranked tennis participant was not at his finest on Thursday, however he did sufficient to triumph. Musetti led by a break within the first set. Nevertheless, the Serbian ace discovered his rhythm and consistency in essential moments to seal the victory.
Novak gained the decisive break within the twelfth recreation of the primary set earlier than he performed with better depth within the second to advance after one hour and 59 minutes.
“I don’t suppose I’m nonetheless at my high stage nevertheless it was an important check at this time in opposition to an important participant, a really gifted participant,” Djokovic mentioned. “I misplaced to him final yr right here, comparable circumstances. I used to be a set and 4-2 up and I need to say it was behind my thoughts once I was serving at 4-2, 40/15 and misplaced my serve at this time. I assumed, ‘Oh no, hopefully this isn’t comparable state of affairs like final yr’. I’m actually glad to beat the problem and stay up for the subsequent one.”
Match statistics: aces (3-1), double faults (2-1), winners (18-18), unforced errors (23-26), whole factors gained (72-57).
Novak will subsequent meet eleventh seed Alex de Minaur (H2H 1-1) after the Australian beat his countryman Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-4.
Djokovic is a two-time titlist on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion (2013, 2015).
The 98-time tour-level champion remains to be trying to find his first trophy of the season.
Photograph: Profimedia