Second-ranked Novak Djokovic dropped his serve once in each set but managed to recover to beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 Thursday and reach the Rome Masters quarterfinals.

Djokovic also struggled with his serve in a semifinal loss to Fernando Verdasco at the Monte Carlo Masters two weeks ago. Against the 28th-ranked Bellucci although he committed half as many unforced errors as the Brazilian.

Djokovic will next meet Verdasco again, after the sixth-seeded Spaniard eliminated countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 7-6 (2) to take his record on clay this year to 13-2.

Djokovic is aiming to reach his third consecutive final in Rome, having won in 2008 and lost to Rafael Nadal last year.

Later, Nadal was up against No. 39 Victor Hanescu in the night match at the Foro Italico.

Posted on April 29th, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Tennis news