Djokovic beats Kohlschreiber to reach Rome quarter-finals

ROME - Serbia's highest-ranked male tennis player Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters tournament by beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 late Thursday.

In an unusual match - their fourth so far - Djokovic came from behind to beat the current world number 29.

Kohlschreiber seemed to be on his way to causing a major upset at the tournament after taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, and it looked as if he could unsettle world number 2 Djokovic, who lacked focus and confidence.

However, the Serbian got back into the match, winning point after point to draw level with his opponent, and gained the upper hand with a superior performance to win the decisive third set with ease after just 25 minutes, in an encounter that lasted just over an hour and a half.

In a bid to reach the semi-finals, Djokovic will face David Ferrer of Spain, who breezed past Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-3.

Djokovic has an 11-5 head-to-head ratio against world number 5 Ferrer.

The prize money of the Masters tournament in Rome amounts to USD 2.8 million.

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini