Djokovic reached his 225th tour-level quarterfinal by claiming his first victory over Alejandro Tabilo in Athens.
After his victory, tournament organizers played a tribute video to his former coach Nikola Pilic, who died in September at the age of 86.
An emotional Djokovic said: “Given what he meant to me and my family – privately, also professionally – he was my tennis father, someone who played a fundamental, integral role in my development as a tennis player and as a person.
“It was really sad news when I heard he had passed away.
“As long as I play tennis and as long as I live, I will celebrate his name.”
Chile’s Tabilo had won both previous meetings with Djokovic, but Roger Federer remains the only player to record a 3-0 head-to-head start against the record 24-time men’s Grand Slam champion.
But after winning in a first-set tiebreak, the 38-year-old Serbian extended his record of winning every match in which he won the first set this season to 28 as he cruised to a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 win.
Djokovic won 20 of the last 23 points in a dominant finish to the match.
Chasing the 101st singles title of his career in the Greek capital, Djokovic will play Nuno Borges on Thursday after Portugal’s sixth seed staged a comeback with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over American Eliot Spizzirri.
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