Novak Djokovic comes through spicy clash with Cameron Norrie to make Italian Open quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic came through a spicy clash with British No. 1 Cameron Norrie to make the Italian Open quarter-finals for the 17th year in a row.

In the second set, Norrie struck Djokovic on the leg with a smash – provoking a long, pointed reaction from the Serbian and a glare at the next change of ends.

But the defending champion ultimately kept his composure to progress with a 6-3 6-4 win.

“So far so good,” Djokovic said on court afterwards. “It was an early start today, strange conditions.

“We warmed up just like 20 minutes, I actually finished my warm-up 10 minutes before I went on the court.

“I was rushing a bit with everything but we couldn’t play earlier because of the rain, so I’m just glad to overcome today’s challenge in straight sets and move on.”

When quizzed about reportedly spending time in the treatment room pre-match, Djokovic added: “Every day is something, but thankfully I was able to play and finish the match and hopefully tomorrow I will feel even better.”

On an unusually cold day in Rome, there was relatively little atmosphere inside the Foro Italico to begin with, but Djokovic didn’t mind that and stormed into a 3-0 lead in just 11 minutes.

Norrie got on the board thereafter to reduce his deficit, but Djokovic kept ahead at 4-1 and then 5-2, with the needle between the pair apparent as they both began to exchange roars down the court when winning significant points during that particular run of games.

Norrie saved two set points at 5-2 down to go 5-3 but Djokovic was solid on his subsequent service game to wrap up the opener in 40 minutes, taking it on his fourth set point.

The pair exchanged holds at the start of the next but there was danger for Norrie next as a brilliant running pass by Djokovic saw him earn two break points – the first of which he took with an errant Norrie backhand.

Down a set and a break against one of the game’s best front-runners, what could the British No. 1 muster?

Something special was the answer, as he broke straight back – with a big flashpoint as Norrie fired his game-winning smash into Djokovic’s calf.

The Serbian, who had turned around before the shot, looked furious, pacing towards the net as Norrie offered only a brief apology. Djokovic then glared lengthily at the Brit at the changeover as Norrie held for 3-2.

That became 4-3 as Djokovic continued to seem frustrated, barking “sweep the court guys” as he struggled with his movement on the Centre Court surface.

But of out nowhere he had a lifeline as Norrie gifted him a break to love.

The drama then continued as the Brit called the trainer straight after, receiving a medical timeout for an apparent issue with his hip.

Djokovic sat emotionless but despite slipping to 0-30 as he served for the match, he fought back to win it, with a frosty handshake between the pair putting the seal on a tense encounter.

Next for the 22-time major winner is a match-up against either Alexei Popyrin or Holger Rune.

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