Novak Djokovic took revenge on Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti with a straight-set win to maneuver into the quarter-finals on the Monte Carlo Masters.
Djokovic, crushed by Musetti on the last-16 stage in Monte Carlo final yr, got here again from a break of serve down within the first set to win 7-5 6-3.
The Serb, 36, is just the second participant to succeed in 10 Monte Carlo quarter-finals within the Open period.
The world primary will play Australia’s Alex de Minaur subsequent.
After successful 5 of the final six video games to show across the opening set, Djokovic twice misplaced serve after going a break up within the second.
However the two-time winner, competing in his first occasion since splitting with former coach Goran Ivanisevic, responded to these setbacks and was in a position to serve out the match to like.
He’ll hope to succeed in his first semi-final on the match since his final title victory 9 years in the past towards De Minaur, who beat compatriot Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-4.
“I do not suppose I’m nonetheless at my prime degree however it was an important take a look at right this moment towards an important participant, a really proficient participant,” Djokovic mentioned.
Italy’s second seed Jannik Sinner beat German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4 6-2 to arrange a quarter-final towards Danish seventh seed Holger Rune or Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov.
However fourth seed Daniil Medvedev is out following a 6-3 7-5 loss to fellow Russian Karen Khachanov.
Khachanov will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas within the final eight after the Greek twelfth seed overcame Germany’s Alexander Zverev 7-5 7-6 (7-3).
