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).
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