A rowdy, pro-Italian crowd sparked Novak Djokovic to a comeback 7-5, 6-3 win over Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday, with the top seed earning revenge against the man who knocked him out here a year ago.
Musetti beat the Serb out here in the 2023 third round and looked like trying again as he broke in the opening game.
But trailing 3-4 in the opener Djokovic withstood a barrage of boos, “encouraging” the Italian fans as if directing an orchestra before breaking back for 4-all.
That moment turned the tide for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who will face off in a Friday quarter-final against Australian Alex de Minaur, who beat compatriot Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-4.
“I had a little exchange with the crowd,” Djokovic said. “(After the break) I started to gain momentum and his level dropped.
“But this is clay, things can turn around quickly; a break is not a big advantage like it is on other surfaces.
The second set was a roller-coaster. I stayed tough and had the right aggression in the right moments – it paid off.”
Djokovic, who has yet to win a title this season and is playing after a month-long pause following a hard loss in Indian Wells, said he has room to improve on the clay.
“I’m not at my top level not at top level yet, but today was a great test. against a very talented player.
“The loss from a year ago was on my mind. I’m really glad I came through and I look forward to the next challenge.
De Minaur will be the first Australian to play a quarter-final here since Mark Philippoussis in 1999.
Djokovic owns two titles at his residence home base, but lifted the last in 2015. He will be competing in the last eight in the principality for the first time in five years.
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic celebrates win on Monte Carlo – by ISF Ltd
