Djokovic In Awesome Form

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was in awesome form on Thursday as he dismantled two-time 2009 ATP World Tour title-winner Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome.
The No. 3-ranked Djokovic took advantage of a below-par performance from Robredo to stun the Spaniard with six breaks of serve in the 63-minute clash. Robredo won just 34 per cent of points behind serve, while Djokovic commanded 63 per cent of points on his serve. The impressive Serb won nearly twice as many points (63-35) as his opponent and improved to a 28-9 match record in 2009.

"I was in control of the match," said Djokovic. "I think I played quite patient, but then when I needed to step it up I did. It was quite strange because Tommy was making a lot of unforced errors, so he didn't put a lot of pressure on me."

The 21-year-old Djokovic, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka to triumph in Rome last year, has gathered pace in recent weeks on the ATP World Tour. He reached the finals in his past two outings at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournaments in Monte-Carlo (l. to Nadal) and Miami (l. to Murray) and won his 12th tour-level title in Dubai (d. Ferrer) at the end of February.

However, the Belgrade native remains under pressure in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings from Andy Murray, who could overtake the Serb at No. 4 on 11 May, dependent on results this week.

"I have been playing really well in the last two or three months regardless who is in front and who is behind me," commented Djokovic. "I just focus on my game, and I've been playing really well. Let's see if I can keep it up."

There will be no repeat of the 2008 Rome final for Djokovic after World No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro defeated Swiss No. 10 seed Wawrinka 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3. Wawrinka rallied from a break down in the second set to level the match, but was unable to complete the comeback as del Potro broke once in the deciding set to secure victory after two hours and 50 minutes.

The 20-year-old del Potro, who captured his first two ATP World Tour titles on clay last year, notched his 21st match win of the season (21-6 record). The Tandil native won his fifth ATP World Tour title in Auckland (d. Querrey) at the start of the season and defeated World No. 1 Rafael Nadal to reach the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami (l. to Murray).

World No. 13 Fernando Gonzalez clinched his spot in the quarter-finals with a battling 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Austrian Jurgen Melzer earlier in the day.

In a keenly fought contest on Stadio Pietrangeli, Gonzalez rallied from a one-set deficit to break serve once in each of the second and third sets to secure the third-round victory in one hour and 54 minutes – levelling his career record with Melzer at 2-2.