British No1 Norrie units up Djokovic conflict in Italian Open final 16
The pair have performed competitively simply twice on tour thus far, the 22-time Grand Slam champion successful each matches, together with final yr’s Wimbledon semi-final.
But Tuesday’s match will probably be their first assembly on clay following Norrie’s 6-2 7-6 victory over Marton Fucsovics in Rome.
Norrie skilled a late wobble within the third-round match having led by a set and 5-1 earlier than Fucsovics got here near pushing a decider.
Djokovic equally had his work lower out in his personal match in opposition to Grigor Dimitrov, which the previous world No1 finally got here by way of 6-3 4-6 6-1.
Third time fortunate? Cameron Norrie has misplaced each of his earlier tour matches in opposition to Novak Djokovic
/ Getty ImagesFollowing the win at his final warm-up occasion earlier than the French Open later this month, Djokovic stated: “I was very solid. I think I could have won in straight sets. I was a set and 4-2 up and had a pretty decent forehand in the middle of the court at deuce on his serve and missed that.
“He held his serve well, we had new balls the next game, I did a double fault, the crowd got into it and got behind him, and of course the energy of the place and the match changed.
“I dropped my level a bit but luckily I managed to find it right away in the first game of the third set, made that crucial break and kind of shifted the momentum to my side. So, I’m really pleased with the way I closed out the match.”