NOVAK Djokovic avenged last year’s Monte Carlo Masters defeat to Lorenzo Musetti to reach the quarter-finals alongside Jannik Sinner.
World number one Djokovic made a poor start and wobbled in the second set before finally winning 7-5, 6-3 over world number 24 Musetti, a player who had beaten him at the same stage 12 months ago.
“I think I’m still not at my top level, but today was a great test against a great player, a very talented player,” Djokovic said.
“I am very happy to have overcome this challenge and look forward to the next challenge,” he added.
Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur, the 11th seed from Australia, in the last eight.
Djokovic has struggled to find his best form of late in Monte Carlo. He has not won this tournament since the last time in 2015.
Also read: Novak Djokovic Advances to Third Round of Monte Carlo Mastres
Meanwhile, Australian Open Champion Sinner improved his record to 24-1 on the season with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jan-Lennard Struff.
The world number two broke serve at 4-4 to take the first set and won nine of the last 11 games to claim victory.
“I broke his serve at the start and then he broke mine. I knew it would be very difficult, but I think I returned it very well, especially on the second serve. I’m very happy,” said Sinner.
Sinner will next face Holger Rune who beat the Italian in the semifinals last year before finishing runner-up to Andrey Rublev. (AFP/Z-3)
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