Djokovic and Nadal advanced at Italian Open Novak Djokovic beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6 6-3 while Rafael Nadal defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3 to advanced at the Italian Open. Krajinovic made long-time friend Djokovic work hard to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th time. Djokovic double faulted on the first of his three set points in the first-set tiebreak but a quick break in the second put him through in a tournament he has won four times. "Never easy, I think, emotionally to play against someone that is one of my best friends for many years," said Djokovic. The top seed is warming up for the French Open in 10 days time, having made the switch from the American hard court tour where he won the Cincinnati tournament played in Flushing Meadows before the US Open from which he was disqualified. He next plays Dominik Koepfer who ended the run of Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-0. Nadal proved too strong for Lajovic, who had valiantly but vainly launched a fightback after trailing 4-0 in the second set to the Spaniard. The defending champion next takes on Diego Schwartzman, who dropped a set before recovering to see off Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Nadal won his first Rome title back in 2005, and is bidding for a third consecutive crown on clay in the Italian capital and 10th in total. The 12-time French Open champion is returning to competition, having not played since winning in Acapulco in February. Photo and info from Yahoo sport