Dusan Lajovic has never defeated Novak Djokovic, his hero. At last, he capitalized on his opportunity in the Open 250 quarterfinals on Friday in Banja Luka.

The tournament’s world number one, who entered with more emotion than reason, lost to his fellow countryman 6-4, 7-6(6), in 2 hours and 29 minutes.

The same athletic issues that Djokovic had a year ago now plague the Serbian player, who grumbled about the speed of the court after defeating Luca Van Assche in the opening encounter but was made worse by the elbow pain in his right arm.

At 6-3 down in the tiebreak, Lajovic saved three consecutive set points before capturing the final five points to win the match.

One figure better captured the performance of the 22-time major champion: 1/16 on break balls.

Andrey Rublev defeated Djokovic in the 2022 Belgrade championship match after a final set tiebreak.

He lost 105 points since he didn’t defend that round. If he wins the Godo tournament in Barcelona, Carlos Alcaraz will have the chance to narrow the rating gap with the Serbian.

In that case, there would only be 365 points separating them when they reached the Caja Magica in Madrid.

A look back at Novak Djokovic:

Novak Djokovic is a professional tennis player from Serbia. He was born on May 22, 1987, and has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

Djokovic is ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 329 weeks.

He has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his tennis career and is known for his powerful and accurate groundstrokes and his mental toughness on the court.

Besides being a great tennis player, Djokovic is known for his philanthropic work.

In 2007, he established the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which aims to improve children’s educational opportunities and physical wellness in Serbia. 

Additionally, Djokovic has organized and participated in numerous charity events, including the Adria Tour, created to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts in the Balkan region.

Djokovic has also been recognized for his sportsmanship on and off the court. 

He has received the ATP’s Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award multiple times and the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.

In terms of his playing style, Djokovic is known for his exceptional return game and his ability to keep rallies going even in difficult situations. He is also known for his mental strength and ability to stay calm and composed even in critical moments.

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