Djkokovic had big problems in the semis with the home player Lorenzo Sonego before he won 6-3,6-7 (5-7) 6-2 after 2.44 on the red gravel at Foro Italico.
In total, Djokovic was on the track for almost five hours today.
Already in the second set, Djokovic had a match ball but he had to wait an hour before he could decide the match.
Sonego hit the net and a cohesive winner went towards the net.
When Sonego burst into a big smile, Djokovic could not hold on but smiled as big and they hugged for a long time in front of the net.
Djokovic could then breathe a sigh of relief.
It was a great relief after the victory.
At lunchtime, Djokovic clearly played the quarter-final against top-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was suspended due to rain yesterday.
At 2-1 in the second set, the match was recorded and the Serbian world setter won 4-6.7-5.7-5.
- I'm glad I passed this challenge.
It is probably the toughest match I have played this year, Djokovic said after the victory against Tsitsipas.
Rafael Nadal showed emphatically that he is still the man to beat after a safe 6-4,6-4 against 2.11 long Reilly Opelka in his semifinal. His quarter-final win against Alexander Zverev with 6-3.6-4 shows that the form is starting to show before the tournament in Paris.