By Tim Parsons-
World number one Novak Djokovic is out of the Srpska Open thanks to a straight-set defeat by fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, 35,(pictured) was beaten 6-4 7-6 (8-6) by the world number 70 in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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Dusan Lajovic produced a career best performance on serve Friday to stun top ace Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Srpska Open in Banja Luka and claim his first win over a World No. 1.
Despite winning just four games across their previous two meetings, the 32-year-old Lajovic earned a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory after fending off 15 of 16 break points faced to advance. Lajovic saved three set points in the second-set tie-break.
It is a further blow to Djokovic as he builds up to next month’s French Open.
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Lajovic. “It’s the biggest win of my career. Beating him is something I didn’t even think was possible, but it happened.”
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Djokovic, who suffered a shock defeat by Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte Carlo Masters last week, has been set back by a right elbow problem.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had surgery on the joint in 2018 and said it was “not in an ideal condition” going into the Srpska Open, though he did not wear any strapping against Lajovic like he did in the defeat by Musetti last week.
However, having defeated Van Assche in a three-set battle, the tennis star said he was feeling better after the tense on court battle. “The elbow is feeling fine, it held up over two hours in conditions that are not suitable for joints, elbow in my case,” he said in his post-match press conference.
Djokovic suffered his third loss this season and first to a fellow Serbian since Janko Tipsarevic defeated him at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid in May 2012. Djokovic praised his friend following the defeat.
“Dusan is a fantastic person, great guy,” Djokovic said. “Someone I’ve known for a very long time, since he started playing professional tennis. So many times on the Davis Cup team together, trained together. I’m happy for him, to be honest. I know this is an important win for him considering the last 12 months that he’s been through, it’s not been easy for him. He’s playing well and he deserved to win today.”
The 93-time tour-level titlist Djokovic will next be in action at the Mutua Madrid Open, which runs from 26 April-7 May.
It was just Djokovic’s second tournament since early March, having missed Indian Wells and the Miami Open after being denied entry to the United States.
Barely 24 hours has passed since the tennis ace offered to coach Nick Kyrgios and said the enigmatic Australian would win give grand slams under his tutelage. Djokovic has returned to action at the Srpska Open this week in Bosnia and Herzegovina having been eliminated in his second match in Monte Carlo.
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