Cameron Norrie hits Novak Djokovic with an overhead: Not honest play

Novak Djokovic’s offended glare made it clear how livid the 22-time Grand Slam champion was along with his opponent. 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 a degree early within the second set of the Serb’s 6-3, 6-4 win on Tuesday.

There have been additionally different situations of dangerous sportsmanship from Norrie, Djokovic stated after reaching the Italian Open quarterfinals for the seventeenth straight 12 months. Djokovic additionally took situation with how his British opponent took a medical day trip simply earlier than he served out the match.

“I did watch the replay when he hit me. Possibly you possibly can say he did not hit me intentionally,” Djokovic stated 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 mainly first recreation.

“These are the issues that we gamers know within the locker room it isn’t honest play, it isn’t how we deal with one another,” Djokovic stated. “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 reply to that.”

Clearly motivated by Norrie’s habits, Djokovic produced his greatest clay-court efficiency of the 12 months towards the Thirteenth-seeded Norrie, who was not made obtainable for remark.

Aiming for his seventh title on the purple clay of the Foro Italico, Djokovic had his total recreation clicking after struggling at instances within the earlier rounds and in his earlier two tournaments on clay.

On an overcast day after it had rained all morning, Djokovic appeared targeted from the beginning. “I truly completed my warmup 10 minutes earlier than I went on the courtroom. So I used to be speeding a bit with every little thing however we could not (heat up) earlier due to the rain,” Djokovic stated. “So I am simply glad to beat as we speak’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 situation along with his surgically repaired proper elbow.

“Daily is one thing,” the 35-year-old Djokovic stated, with out specifying what was bothering him. “However fortunately I used to be capable of play and end the match, so hopefully tomorrow it would really feel a bit higher.”

Djokovic dedicated lower than half as many unforced errors as Norrie, 14-29; and had two extra winners, 21-19.

Norrie gained a title on clay in Rio de Janeiro earlier this 12 months, beating Carlos Alcaraz within the last. Djokovic will lose the No. 1 rating to Alcaraz after this match – although 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 No. 1 and Djokovic might be No. 2 on the French Open, which begins in 12 days. Djokovic will subsequent face seventh-seeded Holger Rune in a rematch of the Paris Masters last that the 20-year-old Dane gained in November. Rune beat Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

“He sort of jogs my memory somewhat bit, the way in which he performs,” Djokovic stated of Rune. “Actually match bodily, nice protection, but additionally nice counter-puncher. He can harm you from each forehand and backhand facet. Actually strong serve. Aggressive returns. Simply all-around participant on all surfaces.

Rune reached the ultimate of the Monte Carlo Masters final month. “It should be a really bodily match,” Djokovic stated.