Djokovic a winner but loses temper
NOVAK DJOKOVIC dropped his first set of the Italian Open but recovered to beat qualifier Dominik Koepfer and reach the semi-finals in Rome.
The omens were certainly not good for German Koepfer when he lost the first four games of the match.
But he responded by breaking Djokovic twice in a row to serve notice that this might not be a straightforward afternoon for the world No.1.
Djokovic moved 3-1 ahead in the second set but smashed his racket to the court after dropping serve in the next game.
Koepfer capitalised to level the match but Djokovic kept his cool and eventually came through 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a clash against Casper Ruud.
There will inevitably be heightened attention on Djokovic’s behaviour on court following his US Open disqualification and he said of his loss of composure against
Koepfer: “Let me tell you that it’s not the first nor the last racket that I’ll break in my career.
“I have done it before. I’ll probably do it again. I don’t want to do it but when it comes, it happens. That’s how I release sometimes my anger.
“And it’s definitely not the best message out there, especially for the young tennis players looking at me.
“I don’t encourage that, definitely. But, look, we’re all people.”
It will be Djokovic’s 69th semi-final at Masters level and his 11th in Rome alone but this is new territory for Ruud.
The Norwegian, 21, became the first player from his country to reach the semi-finals at this level with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Italian number one Matteo Berrettini.
He said: “I’m just enjoying the moment. I’m in a good flow.”