Djokovic and Nadal Move Into Quarters of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia
May 16, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Novak Djokovic has reached the quarterfinals of the 2013 Internazionali BNL d’Italia after he recorded his 30th match win of the season over Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-1, 6-4. Djokovic will next play sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who extended his perfect record to 8-0 against Kevin Anderson in a 7-5, 6-2 win. Berdych hit 25 winners and committed seven unforced errors to book his place in the quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Also advancing was six-time champion Rafael Nadal, who overcame a display of power tennis from qualifier Ernests Gulbis to book his place in the quarterfinals with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory. Nadal will next meet David Ferrer for the 23rd FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between the Spaniards. Ferrer advanced to the quarters when Philipp Kohlschreiber pulled out ahead of their match, due to vertigo.
Benoit Paire also advanced, recording the upset of the day, a 6-4, 7-6(3) win over world number seven Juan Martin del Potro. Pare will next meet Marcel Granollers after Granollers battled past Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.
