Novak Djokovic loses to fellow Serb Dusan Lajovic in Srpska Open quarter ultimate

Dusan Lajovic had by no means overwhelmed his idol Novak Djokovic. He lastly seized his second on Friday within the quarter-finals of the Open 250 in Banja Luka.

The world primary, who got here to the match extra along with his coronary heart than his head, bowed to his compatriot 6-4, 7-6(6) in 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Djokovic, who complained concerning the slowness of the courtroom after profitable the primary match towards Luca Van Assche, is presently dealing with the identical sporting doubts as he did a 12 months in the past. Elevated, although, by his proper elbow issues.

Lajovic gained the match after scoring the final 5 factors of the tiebreak, saving three straight set factors at 6-3 down alongside the way in which. One statistic was extra reflective of the 22-time main champion’s efficiency: 1/16 on break balls.

Alcaraz on the prowl

Djokovic misplaced the Belgrade ultimate in 2022 with a ultimate set tie-break to Andrey Rublev. By not defending that spherical, he dropped 105 factors. Carlos Alcaraz, in Barcelona, has the chance to shut the hole with the Serbian on the prime of the rating if he defends the Godo crown.

If that occurs, they may arrive on the Caja Magica in Madrid separated by simply 365 factors.