Italian Open: Novak Djokovic beats Cameron Norrie to set up quarterfinal clash with Holger Rune

22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic raced to his 91st ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinals after beating USA’s Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 in the Round of 16 match of the Italian Open on Tuesday, May 16.

The Serb won the match in 89 minutes. Djokovic, who is looking to win his 39th ATP Masters title, reached the quarters in Rome for the 17th year in succession. The veteran will now face 20-year-old Holger Rune, who went past Australia’s Alexei Popyrin with a 6-4, 5-7, 4-6 victory.

“So far so good. It was an early start today. Strange conditions and we warmed up for just 20 minutes. I was rushing a little bit and we couldn’t play before because of the rain, so I am glad to overcome the challenge in straight sets and move on,” Djokovic said after the match.

Expect FIREWORKS in this one! ðŸŽÆ@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI23 pic.twitter.com/WZKQJ2lM6s — ATP Tour (@atptour) May 16, 2023

The 35-year-old Djokovic is looking to win his seventh title in Rome, having already won in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2022. In another Round of 16 game, 2022 French Open and US Open runners-up Casper Ruud and Laslo Djere will face off. Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev will also be in action later in the day.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, in the meantime, defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the Round of 32 match. Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev will be up against each other for a spot in the quarters.

In the women’s singles, Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina are already through to the quarters. Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa are also in action.