Novak Djokovic rallies past Juan Monaco into the quarter-finals – Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2012
Top seeded Serbian, Novak Djokovic, dug deep to overcome the challenge of Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the third round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, Italy on Thursday. The Serbian juggernaut fought back from a set down
to beat Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes.
Monaco was the one first to attain lead, as he struck a blow in the fifth game of the opening set and grabbed his succeeding serve to move ahead 4-2. The Argentinean did not let away his advantage and capitalised on it to triumph
6-4.
Ranked 15th in the world, Monaco served quite well, as he kept his first serve percentage at 75 and captured 17 of the 24 points on them. The 28-year-old lost just two on the second deliveries, securing six of the eight
in the opener.
Monaco was closing in for an upset victory, as he further strengthened his position by breaking the Serbian in the third game to gain a 2-1 advantage. However, Djokovic completely turned around the contest after that, breaking
the Argentinean three times and winning five in a row to seal it 6-2.
Djokovic was better than his opponent in all departments of the game, as he bombarded 80 percent of the first serves and converted 11 of the 16 of them into points. The reigning world number one was near error free on the second
deliveries and returns, snatching three of the four and five of the six points on them respectively.
The Serbian and Monaco made a steady start in the decider, holding their serve in the first seven games to take the score to 4-3 in the former’s favour. Djokovic grabbed the decisive breakthrough in the eighth and consolidated
on it to win 6-3.
The 24-year-old said, after the match, "Mental strength is what is needed, especially when you are playing against a player who has already won two tournaments on this surface this year already and is playing with confidence. There
are many thoughts that go through your head [when you are down a set] but you try and focus and think positive. I have enough experience to know what to do and I used it today."
Djokovic acknowledged, "I never expected an easy match against him on his favourite surface. I felt I started hitting the ball better. I found my rhythm."
The Serbian is drawn to face fifth seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the quarter-finals.
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