Djokovic, Nadal stay on course in Rome

AFP, ROME: Second seed Novak Djokovic said he is on track to raise his game for the French Open after reaching the Rome Masters quarter-finals Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
Djokovic, beaten in the final by Britain's Andy Murray last year, will now face Juan Martin del Potro in the quarters after the unseeded Argentinian's 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori.
Rafael Nadal, enjoying his best season on clay in two years, booked a quarter-final clash against Austria's Dominic Thiem, whom he beat in the Madrid Masters final last week, after an “aggressive” 6-3, 6-4 win over American Jack Sock, seeded 13th.
The Spaniard, a seven-time champion in Rome and now on a 17-match claycourt winning streak, also swept Djokovic aside in the semis in Madrid.
But French Open champion Djokovic said: “I'm getting closer, I feel like today's match was one of the better ones I've played on clay this season, and in the past couple of months.
It kept Djokovic on track to meet Nadal in the semis after the Spaniard ended Sock's hopes in 1hr 20min.
Thiem saved three match points in beating Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).
Another playing looking to up his game for the French Open is 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka but the world number three said a lack of confidence was to blame for his shock 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 defeat to big-serving American John Isner, who is ranked 24th in the world.
Isner, meeting Wawrinka for the first time in six years, will now meet Marin Cilic after the sixth seed from Croatia beat Belgian David Goffin, the ninth seed, 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic, Nadal stay on course in Rome

AFP, ROME: Second seed Novak Djokovic said he is on track to raise his game for the French Open after reaching the Rome Masters quarter-finals Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Spains Roberto Bautista Agut. Djokovic, beaten in the final by Britains Andy Murray last year, will now face Juan Martin del Potro in the quarters after the unseeded Argentinians 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori. Rafael Nadal, enjoying his best season on clay in two years, booked a quarter-final clash against Austrias Dominic Thiem, whom he beat in the Madrid Masters final last week, after an aggressive 6-3, 6-4 win over American Jack Sock, seeded 13th. The Spaniard, a seven-time champion in Rome and now on a 17-match claycourt winning streak, also swept Djokovic aside in the semis in Madrid. But French Open champion Djokovic said: Im getting closer, I feel like todays match was one of the better ones Ive played on clay this season, and in the past couple of months. It kept Djokovic on track to meet Nadal in the semis after the Spaniard ended Socks hopes in 1hr 20min. Thiem saved three match points in beating Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7). Another playing looking to up his game for the French Open is 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka but the world number three said a lack of confidence was to blame for his shock 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 defeat to big-serving American John Isner, who is ranked 24th in the world. Isner, meeting Wawrinka for the first time in six years, will now meet Marin Cilic after the sixth seed from Croatia beat Belgian David Goffin, the ninth seed, 6-3, 6-4.