World No.1 Novak Djokovic overcame Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-2 to seal a berth in the quarter-final of the Italian Open 2022.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic delivered yet another masterclass act on Thursday to end Stan Wawrinka's comeback run in the last-16 round at the Italian Open 2022. The Serb overcame the Swiss 6-2, 6-2 in chapter 26 of their long-running rivalry.
The 34-year-old, who must make it through to the semi-finals at Foro Italico in Rome to stop Russia's Daniil Medvedev from climbing to the No.1 spot in the ATP rankings, drubbed the former World No.3 to advance to the quarter-finals after 75 minutes.
16 Rome quarter-finals in 16 appearances 🤯 defeats Wawrinka 6-2 6-2 to notch win No.998 of his career! pic.twitter.com/GVWYtssgK1
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV)"It's great to see Stan back on winning terms. He won two matches, tough two matches... three seters. Can see that he is physically not where he wants to be. Nevertheless, he is Stan Wawrinka. He can hurt you if you give him time," Djokovic said following the win.
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"I managed to do well, I think. From the beginning, I really moved him around to court and held my serve pretty comfortably, except for the loss of serve in the second set. Pretty much very good performance," the World No.1 added.
'It's great to see Stan back on winning terms' with some classy words for resurgent 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WB76ie5Xtz
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV)Djokovic now leads Wawrinka 20-6 in their ATP Head2Head series, with the meeting in Rome their first since the Swiss star defeated the top seed at the US Open in 2019. The Serbian will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarters on Friday after the eighth-seeded Canadian defeated American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2.
Djokovic, who has missed most of the season owing to his unvaccinated status against Covid-19, will hope to go further in Rome and capture a record-extending 38th Masters 1000 crown in the Italian capital, where he is a five-time champion. His first title in Rome came in 2008 when he beat Wawrinka in the championship match.
Djokovic fans took to Twitter to express their joy following this win, with most people anticipating another clash against arch-rival Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
The of old is getting closer & closer & closer. 🇷🇸🎾 pic.twitter.com/XrGDEmhtuk
— Craig O'Shannessy 🇺🇦 (@BrainGameTennis)Честитке на победи ! Срећан празник и теби ! pic.twitter.com/OHvJIFeKL0
— CEagle (@Srpkk4)Novak Djokovic has STILL never lost before the QF in Rome. The last time he failed to cross the QF was in 2013.
Staggering consistency. 🤯💥 pic.twitter.com/WBk76mc2XU
Djokovic appearances in Rome - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Djokovic quarterfinals in Rome - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Nadal fans really convinced themselves Wawrinka, who's got a 19-6 record against Djokovic, could beat Djokovic here just because he beat him once 7 years ago. Funniest fanbase ever 🤣
— ryan (@holdentheblues)Congratulations to Novak on reaching the quarter-finals yet again! 😊🙌 He continues to reach new heights as he plays. ☀️🙏🎾 https://t.co/1d9aNOa34a
— Eleanor✨Djokovic (@DjokovicEleanor)Novak Djokovic beats Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-2.
It's not a question of when Djokovic will be back.
Djokovic is back.
Djokovic and Felix will play each other for the first time in their careers tomorrow!
— Vansh (@vanshv2k)No minor miracle and no surprise: No. 1 Novak Djokovic takes out Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Italian Open. But a big couple steps in the right direction in Rome for Wawrinka, coming back from major injury at age 37 pic.twitter.com/9s8YduQLsX
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey)Sweet 1️⃣6️⃣ for Djokovic 👏
He defeats Wawrinka 6-2 6-2 & has now reached the QFs in Rome every year since 2007! | | pic.twitter.com/wboOfmHrsU
Novak Djokovic beats Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-2. Now 20-6 h2h.
Getting better and better.
Good to see Stan back.