Djokovic completes rush job into Rome quarters

Novak Djokovic dispatched Brit Cam Norrie 6-3, 6-4 to reach a 17th straight quarter-final at the Rome Masters on a wet Tuesday, with the Serb somewhat rushed on his way to the win.

The top seed gave little away about his visit to the trainer’s room before the match.

Djokovic said that due to morning rain he had little time to warm-up admitting that he felt hurried in the early stages of his victory.

“So far, so good,” he said after the 89-minute fourth-round win. “It was an early start today… strange conditions.

“I was rushing a bit with everything, I couldn’t train this morning due to the rain.

“I’m just glad to move on in straight sets. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be feeling better.”

After dealing with an elbow injury over the past month, Djokovic is keeping his condition a well-guarded secret as he bids  for a seventh title at the Foro Italico.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion finished with 21 winners and 14 unforced errors while Norrie was weighed down by 29 unforced errors.

The Brit had on-court treatment in the closing stages of defeat.

Djokovic improved to 67-10 in Rome, winning six of the dozen finals he has reached here.