Novak Djokovic hits out at Italian Open opponent Cameron Norrie, accusing him of dangerous sportsmanship of their spherical of 16 match
Novak Djokovic’s offended glare made it clear how livid the 22-time grand slam champion was together with his opponent.
Key factors:
- Tennis celebrity Novak Djokovic says the way in which his opponent, Cameron Norrie acted on the Italian Open is ‘not how we deal with one another’
- Djokovic received by way of to the spherical of 16, however accused Norrie of dangerous sportsmanship and pushing the boundaries in a fiery match
- Djokovic will lose his world primary rating to Carlos Alcaraz after this match, no matter the place he finishes in Rome
And it wasn’t simply because Cameron Norrie hit him within the left calf with an overhead smash after Djokovic had already turned his again and conceded some extent early within the second set of the Serb’s 6-3, 6-4 win on Tuesday.
There have been additionally different cases of dangerous sportsmanship from Norrie, Djokovic mentioned after reaching the Italian Open quarterfinals for the seventeenth straight 12 months.
Djokovic additionally took challenge with how his British opponent took a medical outing simply earlier than he served out the match.
“I did watch the replay when he hit me. Perhaps you possibly can say he did not hit me intentionally,” Djokovic mentioned when requested about his offended glare towards Norrie after the incident.
“It was not a lot possibly about that … From the very starting, he was doing all of the issues that had been allowed.
“He is allowed to take a medical timeout. He is allowed to hit a participant. He is allowed to say ‘Come on’ within the face kind of each single level from principally first sport.
“These are the issues that we gamers know within the locker room it is not honest play, it is not how we deal with one another.
“He introduced the fireplace, and I responded to that. I am not going to permit somebody behaving like this simply bending my head. I am going to answer that.”
Clearly motivated by Norrie’s behaviour, Djokovic produced his finest clay-court efficiency of the 12 months in opposition to the Thirteenth-seeded Norrie, who was not made accessible for remark.
Additionally on Campo Centrale, native hope Jannik Sinner was eradicated by Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (7/3), 6-2, 6-2. Cerundolo will play Casper Ruud, who beat Laslo Djere 6-1, 6-3.
In ladies’s motion, two-time defending Rome champion Iga Swiatek beat Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4 and can subsequent face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Additionally, Paula Badosa received previous Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-7 (7/4), 6-2 and can play 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Aiming for his seventh title on the Foro Italico, Djokovic had his whole sport clicking after struggling at occasions within the earlier rounds and in his earlier two tournaments on clay.
On an overcast day after it had rained all morning, Djokovic appeared centered from the beginning.
“I really completed my warm-up 10 minutes earlier than I went on the courtroom. So I used to be dashing a bit with every thing however we could not (heat up) earlier due to the rain,” Djokovic mentioned. “So I am simply glad to beat at this time’s problem in straight units and transfer on.”
Djokovic was seen within the coach’s room earlier than the match, having taken three weeks off earlier than this match due to a lingering challenge together with his surgically repaired proper elbow.
“Day by day is one thing,” the 35-year-old Djokovic mentioned, with out specifying what was bothering him.
Djokovic dedicated lower than half as many unforced errors as Norrie, 14-29; and had two extra winners, 21-19.
Norrie received a title on clay in Rio de Janeiro earlier this 12 months, beating Carlos Alcaraz within the closing.
Djokovic will lose the primary rating to Alcaraz after this match — though Alcaraz was crushed by One hundred and thirty fifth-ranked Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan within the third spherical on Monday.
Alcaraz will due to this fact be seeded primary and Djokovic will probably be quantity two on the French Open, which begins in 12 days.
Djokovic will subsequent face seventh-seeded Holger Rune in a rematch of the Paris Masters closing that the 20-year-old Dane received in November. Rune beat Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
“He type of jogs my memory somewhat bit, the way in which he performs,” Djokovic mentioned of Rune. “Actually match bodily, nice defence, but in addition nice counter-puncher. He can harm you from each forehand and backhand aspect.
“[He has a] actually strong serve. Aggressive returns. Simply all-around participant on all surfaces.
Rune reached the ultimate of the Monte Carlo Masters final month.
“It is going to be a really bodily match,” Djokovic mentioned.
Additionally, Daniil Medvedev beat 2017 champion Alexander Zverev for the third time this 12 months, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), after in addition they met in Indian Wells, California, and Monte Carlo.
Medvedev hadn’t received a match in three earlier visits to Rome however will now play German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann for a spot within the semifinals.
Hanfmann upset Monte Carlo champion Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3.
Stefanos Tsitsipas eradicated Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in one other match that started on Monday. Tsitsipas was taking part in once more later in opposition to one other Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, in a match that began close to midnight.
Musetti rallied previous Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in one other suspended match that needed to be accomplished.
AP
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