Internazionali BNL d’Italia top seed Novak Djokovic suffered a quarter-final 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 loss to Tomas Berdych (6) at the Foro Italico on Friday.

Match lasted two hours and 22 minutes.

Novak started well. He took the opening set 6-2 with a double break.

Nole broke his opponent’s serve in the sixth game of the second set, and was serving for the match at 5-3, but Berdych broke back and consolidated it for 5-5. Djokovic was broken once again in the 11th game, and the Czech served out the set to level the match at one-set all.

“I lost concentration and started playing more defensively,” said Novak. “I played a bad game at 5-3 and I made some unforced errors. At this level you have to take advantage of the opportunities and I lost this game by myself.”

A single break in game three of the deciding final set was enough for Berdych to seal the victory and book his place in the last four.

Match statistics: aces (8-9), double faults (1-3), winners (38-45), unforced errors (24-36), total points won (97-99).

Novak’s next tournament is the second Grand Slam of the season, the 2013 Roland Garros, taking place in Paris from May 26 to June 9.

Last year, Nole reached the finals for the first time (l.to Nadal 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 5-7).

“I need to make sure that I don’t have highs and lows. I’m sure that I will be ready for Paris,” Novak added.

Photo: Getty Images

Two-time former champion Novak Djokovic recorded a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win on Thursday over world no.23 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine to reach the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome.

The top-seeded Serb saved all three break points he faced, and broke three times from six opportunities in a rain-delayed 60-minute third round clash at the Centrale.

Match statistics: aces (5-4), double faults (2-2), winners (13-18), unforced errors (9-26), total points won (60-42).

For a place in the semi-finals, Nole will face no.6 seed Tomas Berdych who eliminated Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-5, 6-2.

Djokovic takes a 13-1 career record against the Czech into their Friday meeting.

The 25-year-old Belgrade native, who improved to a 28-3 season record and 24-4 mark at the Foro Italico, is looking to clinch his third Rome title (2008, 2011).

Photo: Getty Images

Top seed Novak Djokovic began his title bid in Rome with a straight-sets win over Albert Montanes on Tuesday.

The Serbian eased to a 6-2, 6-3 victory against his Spanish opponent, ranked 89th in the world, to reach the third round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Nole delighted his fans on Centrale with some brilliant shotmaking. After a slow start, he rallied from an early break down to take the first set 6-2 in 38 minutes.

Djokovic raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set. He brought up three match points in the ninth game, but only one was needed, as the world no.1 secured the win with an ace.

“This win means a lot to me because I didn’t have a great week in Madrid. I didn’t play much, I didn’t practise much,” said Novak. “I worked very hard to prepare for this tournament. I need to be emotionally and physically fit and I think I’m heading in the right direction.”

Match statistics: aces (4-1), double faults (0-4), winners (20-14), unforced errors (22-25), total points won (66-42).

Novak will next play against world no.23 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine (2-0) who got a walkover after no.15 seed Stanislas Wawrinka withdrew from the event.

The 25-year-old Belgrade native has enjoyed success at the Foro Italico in past years, winning a pair of titles in 2008 and 2011.

Novak has a 27-3 match record this year (7-1 on clay) with titles at the Australian Open, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis championships and the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

He has now spent 81 weeks at no.1, which is ninth-most (since Aug. 23, 1973), behind Federer, Sampras, Lendl, Connors, J. McEnroe, Borg, Nadal and Agassi.

Photo: Getty Images

Singles draw has been made for Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the fifth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in 2013.

Top seed and two-time former titlist Novak Djokovic has a first-round BYE. He will open quest for his third crown against world no.89, Spanish qualifier Albert Montanes (4-0 head-to-head career record).

Novak’s potential opponents in the later stages of the tournament are:

3rd round: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI, 15)
Quarter-finals: Tomas Berdych (CZE, 6), Marin Cilic (CRO, 11)
Semi-finals: David Ferrer (ESP, 4), Rafael Nadal (ESP, 5), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB, 10)
Finals: Roger Federer (SUI, 2), Andy Murray (GBR, 3), Juan Martin del Potro (ARG, 7), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 8)…

Djokovic conquered Rome in 2008 and 2011. The 25-year-old Serbian star finished runner up to Rafael Nadal last year (5-7, 3-6), so he will defend 600 ATP points.

The last of three Masters 1000 events contested on clay will be played at Foro Italico from May 12 to May 19.

“I love the support I have here, a lot of kids screaming my name. I speak Italian and I so feel like a local and winning here twice will help me have a great time,“ Novak said at the pre-tournament press conference. “I want to find my right form as in Monte Carlo and I believe I can do it. In this tournament there are many great players in great shape. Not easy, but it’s not the first time in my career and hopefully this tournament will be the lucky one for me.“

You can download Nole May Desktop Wallpaper here.

Photo: Getty Images

World no.1 Novak Djokovic and his Serbian colleague Ana Ivanovic appeared on the popular Spanish TV show with Pablo Motos, “El Hormiguero”.

The two chatted with the host before taking part in some fun, including stacking playing cards and dressing up in rain ponchos and goggles to hit plastic cups with their racquets.

Just like four years ago when Nole appeared on the show for the first time, the live audience in the studio enjoyed it very much.

In an interesting interview, Pablo reminded spectators about girl who was hit by tennis ball at the 2007 Madrid Masters, and about Nole’s impersonations, especially of Sharapova.

Djokovic impersonated Spanish comedian ‘Chiquito de la Calzada’, known for his specific way of walking. He also sang, danced and had fun with puppet ants Trancas y Barrancas.

The host Pablo Motos likes Novak’s sense of humour and all the fun he brings into the world of tennis which makes him unique.

“We travel a lot to different countries. We have a lot of obligations, spending many hours on tennis court, and we try to enjoy and bring the laugh to the public,“ Novak said.

Enjoy the video and photos taken during the show:

World no.1 and 2013 Mutua Madrid Open top seed Novak Djokovic suffered a 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 3-6 defeat by no.28 in the ATP rankings, Grigor Dimitrov, in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.

Dimitrov took a one-set lead after saving three set points to win the first set 7-6(6). Both players struggled with physical problems in the second set. Novak was down 2-4, but he fought back and won the tie-breaker 10-8 to level up the match at one-set all.

The 21-year-old Haskovo native made a break in the opening game of the decisive third set and kept the advantage till the end to seal the biggest win of his career.

“For 12 days after Monte Carlo, I haven’t touched the racquet. I didn’t prepare myself so well,” Novak said at the press conference. “But I’m not trying to find any excuses for the loss. I tried to do my best. All the credit to Dimitrov, because he was the better player on the court. He was striking the ball really well, serving great, changing the pace and he deserved to win. Right now the only positive thing is that I didn’t worsen my ankle injury before Rome and Paris.”

Match statistics: aces (5-12), double faults (0-6), winners (32-36), unforced errors (45-40), total points won (127-129).

This was Novak’s first match after he won the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title two weeks ago, ending Rafael Nadal’s eight-year reign.

Djokovic won the Madrid Masters in 2011, and last year he reached quarter-finals where he lost to fellow Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

Nole’s next tournament is Internazionali BNL d’Italia, taking place in Rome, Italy on 12-19 May. The two-time former champion (2008, 2011) finished runner-up to Nadal last year, so he will defend 600 points.

You can download Nole May Desktop Wallpaper here.

Photo: Getty Images

After victory in Monte Carlo two weeks ago, Nole continues his clay court season at the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament on clay in 2013, the Mutua Madrid Open.

Singles draw has been announced on Friday afternoon.

World no.1 and 2011 champion will lead a star-studded field at La Caja Mágica complex from May 5 till May 12.

Djokovic is a top seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open his campaign on Tuesday at 20.00 CET against world no.29 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria (2-0 career H2H record).

“The court where I practiced is great. I haven’t practiced on the center court yet, but I’ve heard only positive comments, so it’s great to see that,” Novak said at the pre-tournament press conference.

“I played against Dimitrov in Indian Wells, he’s very talented player. He has capacity to play in a very, very high level; he’s an all-round player, and he showed it. With his style of the game you think that he can play his best on the hard courts and the faster courts, but he showed in Monte-Carlo when he pushed Nadal to three sets that he can play equally well on clay.“

Novak’s potential opponents in the later stages of the tournament are:

3rd round: Stanislas Wawrika (SUI, 15)
Quarter-finals: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 7), Milos Raonic (CAN, 12)
Semi-finals: Andy Murray (GBR, 3), Tomas Berdych (CZE, 6), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB, 9)

Defending champion Roger Federer (SUI, 2), David Ferrer (ESP, 4) and Rafael Nadal (ESP, 5) are in the opposite side of the draw.

The tournament returns to traditional red clay after a 2012 experiment with artificial blue clay surface.

Last year Novak reached quarter-finals (l.to Janko Tipsarevic).

Photo: Sports Illustrated

After winning his first Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title, world no.1 Novak Djokovic has used a two-week break to have a good rest and prepare for upcoming challenges on European clay courts.

Novak will take part at the Mutua Madrid Open next week (May 5-12), where he will defend 180 ATP points he gained for 2012 quarterfinal performance (lost to Janko Tipsarevic). Djokovic won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in 2011. Singles Draw for this year’s edition will take place on Friday, May 3.

After Madrid, Nole will travel to Rome, where the last Masters clay court tournament of the year will be played from 12-19 May. The 25-year-old Serbian star is a two-time Internazionali BNL d’Italia former champion ( 2008, 2011). Last year he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal, so he will defend 600 points.

There will be a week off between Rome and the second Grand Slam tournament of 2013 – Roland Garros. Last year Novak reached his first final in Paris, where he fell to Nadal (4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 5-7). He will defend 1200 points at the only Grand Slam he has not yet won.

The world’s most prestigious tennis event, Wimbledon, will be played on grass from June 24 to July 7 in London. Novak triumphed at the Championships in 2011. He will defend 720 ATP points; last year he was stopped in semifinals by Roger Federer (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6).

After Wimbledon, Novak will have four weeks to rest and prepare for the North American hard court season (Montreal, Cincinnati and US Open).

Photo: Sports Illustrated

After winning his first Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title on Sunday, Nole has increased his lead over his rivals in the latest ATP Ranking List.

The 25-year-old Serbian ended Rafael Nadal’s eight-year reign at the Monte Carlo Country Club, beating the Spaniard in straight sets 6-2, 7-6.

Novak is on top with 12,900 points, and 4,230 points advantage over second-ranked Roger Federer.

ATP top 10 as of Monday, April 22:

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 12,900
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8,670
3. Andy Murray (GBR) 8,660
4. David Ferrer (ESP) 6,970
5. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5,985
6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4,760
7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4,750
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 3,875
9. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 3,365
10. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 3,000

Djokovic is on top of the ATP Race to London standings with 4,120 points, ahead of Murray (2,720), Nadal (2,500), Ferrer (2,370) and Berdych (1,640).

Clay court season continues at the Mutua Madrid Open (5-12 May), followed by Internazionali BNL d’Italia (12-19 May) and the second Grand Slam in 2013, Roland Garros.

Photo: WireImage

Nole has dethroned Rafa to become the new king of Monte Carlo!

Reigning ATP World Tour Champion captured his first Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title on Sunday with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over third seed Rafael Nadal of Spain in one hour and 52 minutes to win his eighth different Masters 1000 crown.

The top-seeded Serb won his third title of the season and his 14th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy. The only event he has yet to win is the Western & Southern Open in Cincinatti.

Novak, who was appearing in his 56th ATP World Tour level final, has now won 37 trophies.

In the 34th encounter between the two players, Djokovic seized control in brilliant fashion.

The Serbian star took advantage by gaining service breaks in the second and fourth games and raced to a 5-0 lead. He missed five break/set points in the sixth game, and then got broken in the next when serving for the set. Djokovic made a third break when Nadal double faulted on Nole’s eighth set point.

Nadal made a break in the fifth game of the second set and consolidated it to go 4-2 up. Nole regained his composure, played a superb game, with backhand, forehand and service winners to hold to love and then broke back to level the result. He was broken again in the 11th game, but found strength to fight back once more with Spaniard serving for the set. Djokovic saved the best for last, taking the tie-break 7-1 to end Nadal’s reign of 46 straight wins and eight consecutive titles in Monte Carlo, making it third time lucky after finishing runner-up to the Spaniard in 2009 and 2012.

“It’s a great pleasure to be here. It’s a magnificent moment, very, very special, because I live here and have a lot of support,” Novak said at the trophy ceremony. “Rafa, it was a pleasure once again. Thank you for letting me win at least once.”

“I cannot wish for a better start of the clay season. I spend a lot of time in Monaco so I know a lot of people, we became friends over many years, and its definitely the most beautiful club in the world. I’m very privileged to be playing in it. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play this year. Right now it’s the best decision of my life!”

The 25-year-old Belgrade native, who has spent 77 weeks at No.1, improved to 26-2 on the season with other championship successes coming at the Australian Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Djokovic will next play at the Mutua Madrid Open (5-12 May), where he reached quarter-finals last year. He triumphed at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in 2011.

Photo: Getty Images