Novak Djokovic celebrates reaching the quarter-finals with victory over Spain's Pablo Andujar. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconNovak Djokovic celebrates reaching the quarter-finals with victory over Spain's Pablo Andujar. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

Djokovic eases into Tel Aviv last eight

Staff WritersPress Association

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Novak Djokovic, playing his first regular ATP Tour event since the Italian Open in May, has beaten Pablo Andujar to reach the quarter-finals of the Tel Aviv Watergen Open.

The world No.7 has only appeared at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Laver Cup this summer.

Djokovic got the better of Andujar 6-0 6-3 in one hour and 28 minutes in only his fourth match since he claimed a 21st grand slam title at SW19 in July.

The Serbian won the opening seven games of the contest before Andujar finally got off the mark following a marathon game that lasted 20 minutes.

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"The first match started off in a perfect way for me," Djokovic said.

"I won seven games in a row and we were fighting in that eighth game for 15 minutes, I think.

"It was one of the longest games I've ever played in my life and I've played many, many games in my life. But credit to Pablo for fighting and playing a great match as well."

Britain's Liam Broady joined the Serbian in the last eight in Israel after an excellent 6-4 4-6 6-3 win over fifth seed Botic van de Zandschulp, of the Netherlands.

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Argentina's Diego Schwartzman, seeded third, also exited the tournament following a 6-3 2-6 7-6 (9-7) loss to Arthur Rinderknech, of France.

At another ATP 250 event, the Korea Open, Cameron Norrie ended his three-match losing streak by beating wild card Kaichi Uchida 6-2 6-2.

Top seed and US Open runner-up Casper Ruud also made it through to the quarter-finals, but only following a back-and-forth battle with Nicolas Jarry, which the Norwegian won 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Italy's Jannik Sinner triumphed at the Sofia Open, 6-3 6-4 against Nuno Borges, and will face Australia's Aleksandar Vukic in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Holger Rune, of Denmark, followed the Italian into the final eight with a 6-7 (7-1) 6-4 6-3 victory over Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy.