20 April,2012 08:45 AM IST | | AFP
Novak Djokovic buried his grief to advance to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday, just hours after learning of the death in Serbia of his beloved grandfather. The World No 1 elected to take to the court against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine after suffering the heart-breaking blow at training in the morning.
Djokovic, who played despite learning about his grandfather's death, gets emotional after his win over Dolgopolov yesterday. Pic/AFP
His match, interrupted by the fourth rain shower of the day at the Monte Carlo Country Club, eventually ended with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win and a pleading look to the Mediterranean skies from the distraught star. Djokovic was said to be close to grandfather Vladimir and sheltered with him and other family members during the NATO bombing of Belgrade in 1999.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray advanced into the quarters after Frenchman Julien Benneteau went down with an ankle injury and subsequent broken elbow. Murray was leading 6-5 in the first round. u00a0
