Novak Djokovic misplaced to a fellow Serb for the primary time in 11 years within the quarterfinals of the Srpska Open. Dusan Lajovic gained 6-4 7-6 (6) to down a world No. 1-ranked participant for the primary time on Friday. “It is the biggest win of my career,” Lajovic stated on courtroom. “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 is one thing that I did not even suppose goes to be doable, nevertheless it occurred.”
Djokovic transformed solely one in every of 16 break probabilities, and missed three set factors within the tiebreaker. His earlier loss to a fellow Serb was in 2012 to Janko Tipsarevic in Madrid.
“Dusan is a fantastic person, great guy,” Djokovic stated.
A narrative to inform for a lifetime _
The second @Dutzee defeated World No.1 Novak Djokovic in Banja Luka. #SrpskaOpen pic.twitter.com/7F13gC5jHk— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 21, 2023
“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. He deserved to win today.” Following his third lack of the yr, Djokovic strikes on to the Madrid Open subsequent week.
Alcaraz and Tsitsipas advance to Barcelona quarterfinals
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame windy situations to advance to the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. Stefanos Tsitsipas additionally reached the final eight in Barcelona, defeating Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-2, whereas Casper Ruud misplaced to Fifteenth-seeded Francisco Cer?ndolo 7-6 (5), 6-3. Alcaraz was damaged as soon as within the first set and twice within the second however nonetheless managed to shut out the match on the Rafa Nadal heart courtroom, successful the ultimate 11 factors and ending it with an ace.
(*11*) the top-seeded Alcaraz stated. (*1*)
It was the second consecutive straight-set win for the 19-year-old Alcaraz, who’s making an attempt to change into the primary repeat champion in Barcelona since Nadal gained three consecutive titles from 2016-18.
Alcaraz’s subsequent opponent shall be one other Spaniard, Tenth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who defeated Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 7-5. Alcaraz is 9-1 in opposition to Spaniards, together with his solely loss coming to Nadal in final yr’s Indian Wells semifinals.
