Rome: Novak Djokovic will contest the quarter-finals of the Italian Open for the 14th straight year following Friday's 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 win over fellow Serbian Filip Krajinovic.
"It was definitely one of the longest sets I think I have ever played," said Djokovic as per the ATP Tour website after the match. "Never easy, I think, emotionally to play against someone that is one of my best friends for many years...I think the first set could have gone a different way, as well.
"Fortunately for me, it went my way and that allowed me to swing through the ball a bit more in the second set. Maybe physically and mentally, he dropped a level and I used my opportunities and capitalised to win in straight sets."
The four-time champion has now won 28 of his 29 matches this year and will overtake Rafael Nadal's Masters 1000 title haul if he wins in Rome on Sunday.
The two rivals are currently tied on 35 Masters 1000 titles apiece.
Djokovic's next opponent will be qualifier Dominik Koepfer in the last eight.
