Novak Djokovic storms back from first-set bagel to progress in Rome

In a first set that defied logic, world number one Djokovic failed to defend any of the three break points he offered up and Bellucci bageled the Serb in just over 25 minutes.

The bagel represented Djokovic’s first since 2012 but the Serb reacted in fine manner, taking his only break opportunity to take the second stanza and send it to a decider.

Djokovic claimed two breaks in the final set to progress in one hour and 37 minutes.

“After the first set I had to change. First set was a complete Bellucci storm, and I was blown away from the court,” Djokovic told the ATP website after the match.

“Fortunately the matches are played in best of three, so I had another opportunity to come back and to restart, which I did.”

“The crucial game was the first game of the second set where I held my serve, and then I felt that things started to go my way as I tactically changed certain things, started to change the pace, get him on the move from one corner to another, with a little bit of a shorter and longer variety of balls. And it worked well,” Djokovic added.

Waiting for Djokovic in the quarter-final will be Rafael Nadal, who beat Nick Kyrgios 6-7(3) 6-2 6-4 earlier in the day.