WATCH: Inspired Dusan Lajovic downs Novak Djokovic in sensational Banja Luka upset
Dusan Lajovic became the first Serbian to beat Novak Djokovic in over a decade as he downed the world No 1 6-4, 7-6(6) in Banja Luka on Friday 21 April 2023.
Lajovic simply would not give up on any service game as he saved an incredible 15 of 16 break points faced.
Lajovic also saved three set points in the second-set tie-break before sealing what he described as the biggest win of his career.
“I’m overwhelmed, it is the biggest win of my career,” Lajovic said during his on-court interview following the victory over Novak Djokovic.
“The emotions are very mixed because I’m playing here in front of the home town and I’m also playing against Nole who is a good friend and he’s a hero of our country. Beating him, it’s something that I didn’t even think is going to be possible, but it happened.”
Crucially Lajovic remained aggressive throughout, sometimes serve-and-volleying to keep the squeeze on Djokovic. The 32-year-old Lajovic was able to shift the 22-time major champion to all four corners of the court to claim his third career win over a Top five player.
Lajovic insisted that it was only Djokovic being off his game on serve that allowed him to stay in the match.
“His percentage of the first serve was not the greatest,” Lajovic said. “So I was able to use that to my advantage. But overall I think it was very good tennis from my side.”
If Miomir Kecmanovic defeats Jiri Lehecka this evening, Lajovic might face another Serbian in the quarterfinals.
Lajovic reached a career-high 23rd in the ATP Rankings four years ago, shortly after reaching the Monte-Carlo Masters final, where he lost to Fabio Fognini. Later that season, at the ATP 250 event in Umag, Lajovic won his only tour-level title.
Djokovic was defeated for the third time this season and the first time by a fellow Serbian since Janko Tipsarevic beat him in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid back in May 2012. The 93-time tour-level champion will next compete at the Mutua Madrid Open, which takes place from 26 April to 7 May.
The World No 1 has been playing through another injury in what has been an unlucky campaign to date despite a pair of titles in Australia, including his 22nd Grand Slam in Melbourne.
