Novak Djokovic avoids back-to-back defeats with comeback victory against Luca Van Assche at Banja Luka Open

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic battled from a set down to beat 18-year-old Luca Van Assche 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 at the Banja Luka Open in Bosnia on Wednesday.

Van Assche took the upper hand in with a first-set tie-break victory, but Djokovic withstood the early challenge from the teenager to rally from behind and avoid a second successive defeat in an entertaining two-hour, 38-minute clash.

Djokovic issued a fitness update ahead of the tournament, raising concerns over his right elbow he had surgery on five years ago, but was deemed fit enough to kickstart his Banja Luka Open campaign against Van Assche.

This match came less than a week after his Monte Carlo Masters exit following a 4-6 7-5 6-4 defeat to Lorenzo Musetti in the last 16, but Djokovic was determined to get back on track during his first professional visit to Bosnia.

After a far-from-ideal start, Djokovic fought back in the second set to level the match, before going down an early break in the decider.

He upped the tempo and took his game up a gear by playing with more depth and testing Van Assche’s court coverage.

He stayed aggressive on return, which helped improve his season record to 17-2 and avoid a second successive defeat in ATP events for the first time since last April’s Monte Carlo Masters exit to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The 35-year-old is aiming to secure his third title of the season and will next meet either countryman Dusan Lajovic or Gregoire Barrere in the quarter-final.

More to follow…