Djokovic ousts Nadal in Rome quarters
Djokovic and Nadal have now met 49 times and the Serbian has taken their career match to 26-23
ROME, (AFP) - World number one Novak Djokovic stretched his winning streak over Rafael Nadal to seven matches on Friday with a thrilling 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory to book his spot in the Rome Masters semi-finals.
Djokovic, the defending champion, now faces the winner of the Friday s last quarter-final, between Kei Nishikori of Japan and Austrian Dominic Thiem, as he bids for a fifth title in the Italian capital.
Nadal s last win over the seemingly unstoppable Serbian goes back to his victory in the final of Roland Garros in 2014.
As a seven-time champion in Rome, Nadal s commands plenty of support from the fans at the Foro Italico.
Nadal looked to have the measure of Djokovic by the time he won his first break at 3-2, but it seemed only to tighten Djokovic s resolve.
Djokovic converted a third break point to pull level in the eighth game when Nadal misfired on a forehand.
In a pulsating 12th game, Djokovic upped the pressure and was rewarded on his fourth set point.
Nadal should have pulled the match level when he was 5-4 up in the second set, but a dogged Djokovic had other ideas.
With Nadal leading 5-4, Djokovic saved no less than five set points before breaking back on his first set point to level the set 5-5.
In an epic 11th game, Nadal raced to love 30 only for Djokovic to fight back and take the win after a Nadal return landed wide.
Djokovic was pumped, and despite Nadal serving to love to level 6-6, Djokovic moved up a gear in the tie break.
He raced to 3-1 lead but saw Nadal defy his service game to claw his way back with a spectacular turn and shot at the net that had the crowd on its feet.
Yet Nadal was wasteful again. He squandered the chance to level when a return landed outside the tramlines, handing Djokovic a crucial 4-2 tiebreak lead from which he never recovered.
Djokovic and Nadal have now met 49 times and the Serbian has taken their career match to 26-23.
