Djokovic reaches quarter-finals
Shows best and worst way to cope under pressure as he recovers after losing first set
Rome: World number one Novak Djokovic demonstrated how to smash a racquet and how to cope with adversity as he reached the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters yesterday.
In a blustery wind, Djokovic mangled his racquet after losing the first set to Juan Monaco of Argentina but recovered from a break down in the second set to clinch a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
From 1-2 in the second set it was as if somebody had flicked a switch as a dominant Djokovic won 20 of the next 24 points to level the match.
Monaco, ranked 15th, could not sustain his level and Djokovic eased away to set up a meeting with Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
"I hope the children watching don't do that," a smiling Djokovic told a news conference, referring to his racket-smashing. "But I show my emotions out there. That's who I am.
"I struggled with the wind today and I was a bit defensive and passive in the first set but once I was more direct I started to play much better."
Sixth seed David Ferrer and number seven Tomas Berdych both advanced to the last eight with straight-set wins.
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray were all due to play their third-round matches later yesterday.
Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 6-3, 6-1. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) beat Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 6-0, 6-1. Venus Williams (USA) beat Samantha Stosur (AUS x5) 6-4, 6-3.
Men's third round: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) beat Juan Monaco (ARG x14) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Tomas Berdych (CZE x7) beat Nicolas Almagro (ESP x12) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. David Ferrer (ESP x6) beat Gilles Simon (FRA x11) 6-0, 7-6 (7/5).
