Novak Djokovic suffers shock defeat against Dusan Lajovic at 2023 Banja Luka Open quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic crashed out at the Banja Luka Open in Bosnia after suffering a 6-4 7-6(8-6) defeat against Dusan Lajovic.

Djokovic complained earlier in the week that he was struggling with his right elbow, but boasts a far more impressive pedigree than his fellow Serb although it didn’t look the case at times.

The two 30-year-olds were well matched and with two break points to his older opponent’s one, Lajovic was able to move 5-4 ahead to give him the chance to serve for the first set, which he duly took.

Lajovic had reached the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, while Djokovic had to overcome trailing by a set against Luca Van Assche to avoid a second consecutive defeat.

Djokovic held his serve in the first game of the second set and as he edged ahead into the second set many would have expected another gritty comeback against injury and the odds.

However the veteran was unable to get clear water between his rival and he was dragged back to 6-6, leaving the pair set for a tie-break, with Djokovic needing to win just to stay in the match.

With Djokovic taking just one of the 16 break points he had earned along the way, this was a much less ruthless No. 1 than has dominated the sport, and with Roland-Garros on the horizon, he will need to find better form elsewhere, with two defeats coming in his last three matches.

Earlier in Bosnia, Damir Dzumhur lost 7-5 6-3 to second seed Andrey Rublev, who will now be the clear favourite to take home the trophy this year.

Alex Molcan beat Laslo Djere 6-2 4-6 7-5 in their quarter-final, with Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Jiri Lehecka still to come.

Molcan will play Rublev in their semi-final on Saturday, with Lajovic waiting to discover his opponent.

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