ATP Banja Luka: Oh! Novak Djokovic loses to Lajovic!
Surprise at the ATP tournament in Banja Luka: Novak Djokovic , world number 1, lost here to compatriot Dusan Lajovic (ATP No. 70)!
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 21, 2023, 06:59 pm
4: 6, 6: 7 (6) it was from the point of view of the Djoker, who suffered a complete false start to the clay court season. At the Masters tournament in Monte Carlo last week, it was over in the round of 16.
In Banja Luka, too, Djokovic only stuttered into the tournament and had turned his opening game against Luca van Assche after falling behind in the set. In the quarter-finals against Lajovic he was no longer able to do that.
He had only played a total of four games in the two previous encounters against Djokovic, but now he won.
Lajovic fends off 15 break chances
Djokovic had already suffered an elbow injury in Monte Carlo, but at least officially gave the all-clear after the game against van Assche.
Of course, Lajovic has the greatest success of his career. In which he presented himself as having strong nerves: he fended off 15 of Djokovic's 16 break chances, as well as three set balls in the tie-break.
Djokovic will now continue to Madrid, where the Masters tournament will start next week.