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Italian Open: Cameron Norrie wins to set up Novak Djokovic clash in Rome fourth round

British No 1 Cameron Norrie wrapped up a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory over Marton Fucsovics on Sunday, while Novak Djokovic continued his title defence with a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 6-1 victory over Bulgarian 26th seed Grigor Dimitrov

British number one Cameron Norrie progressed through to the fourth round of the Italian Open in Rome with a straight-sets victory over Marton Fucsovics
Image: British No 1 Cameron Norrie progressed through to the fourth round of the Italian Open in Rome

British No 1 Cameron Norrie eased past Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in straight sets to set up a fourth-round clash with Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open in Rome.

Norrie wrapped up a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory over Fucsovics on Sunday, while Djokovic earlier continued his title defence with a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 6-1 victory over Bulgarian 26th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Norrie was one set up and leading 5-1 in the second before being pegged back by Fucsovics, ranked 92nd in the world. He twice broke Norrie and saved five match points - four on his own serve - on his way to levelling things up at 5-5.

Norrie, the 13th seed, dug deep again and ultimately emerged victorious in a tie-break, despite losing the first two points and then going 3-1 down. The 27-year-old Brit found another gear, rattling off the next five points before winning on his seventh match point.

Djokovic overcomes sluggish start to beat Dimitrov

Djokovic, who will lose his world No 1 ranking at the end of the tournament to Carlos Alcaraz, overcame a sluggish start and a late comeback attempt by Dimitrov to book a place in the last 16.

Novak Djokovic vs Grigor Dimitrov, Italian Open in Rome
Image: Novak Djokovic was taken to a third-set decider before ultimately emerging victorious against Grigor Dimitrov

Both players surrendered serve early in the first set before Djokovic raised his game to pull away for a 4-1 lead, and an 11th victory over Dimitrov in 12 career meetings began to look inevitable.

Dimitrov, whose only win over the Serbian world No 1 came 10 years ago in Madrid, produced a tight hold but could not prevent his opponent from running away with the opening set and grabbing the advantage in the next.

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The former world No 3 did, however, then reel off four-straight games from 2-4 down to ultimately claim the second set and force a decider. But Djokovic responded strongly and let out a roar after securing a double break in the third and held firm to advance.

Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev posted his first career win in Rome by beating Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 6-2. The Russian had lost his opener in his previous three appearances at the tournament.

Also, Holger Rune eliminated Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2 and Stefanos Tsitsipas needed just two games to finish off a second-round win over Nuno Borges, 6-3, 6-3, in a match that had been suspended due to rain on Saturday.

Women's No 1 Swiatek romps through | Gauff crashes out

Two-time defending champion in Rome, Iga Swiatek swept aside Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-0 in the third round of the women's tournament.

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts Jduring her match against Jessica Pegula of the United States at the e final of the Qatar Open WTA tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)
Image: Iga Swiatek is through to the fourth round in Rome as she looks to win the title for a third year running

The Polish world No 1 dropped the first two games of the match before then rattling off the next 12 in a row to win in emphatic fashion.

The victory extended her winning streak in Rome to 13 matches and she again looks in ominous form, having dispatched former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 6-0 in her second-round clash. She will face Liudmila Samsonova or 21st seed Donna Vekic in the fourth round.

Elsewhere, sixth seed Coco Gauff crashed out against Marie Bouzkova, who sealed a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over the American teenager.

Former Paris runner-up Marketa Vondrousova knocked out Greek ninth seed Maria Sakkari 7-5 6-3 and will have another chance to continue her giant-killing run in Rome when she takes on Elena Rybakina or Anna Kalinskaya in the round of 16.

Madison Keys also advanced to the fourth round as a result of Victoria Azarenka withdrawing before their match due to a right leg injury.