Nole suffered his third loss this season.
Novak’s Srpska Open marketing campaign was ended on Friday when he fell to compatriot Dusan Lajovic in quarter-final motion, 4-6, 6-7 (6), in two hour and 29 minutes.
The 2 gamers had exchanged breaks as soon as within the opener earlier than Lajovic moved 5-4 forward to present himself the possibility to serve for the primary set. The no.3 racquet of Serbia saved three break factors earlier than closing it out after precisely one hour.
The second set went to a tie-break. Novak was main 6-3, however he couldn’t capitalise on the set factors. Lajovic received 5 factors in a row to seal the largest win of his profession.
The 22-time main champion transformed simply one in every of his 16 break level probabilities. He now holds a 17-3 W/L file in 2023.
Match statistics: aces (3-3), double faults (2-0), complete factors received (89-98).
Novak is looking for his finest type forward of the second Grand Slam occasion of the season, the Roland Garros.
The Serbian and world no.1 will head to Rome for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Might 10 – Might 21), the place he was triumphant six occasions (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020 and 2022).
Final yr, he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas within the last (6-0, 7-6).
Images: Srpska Open
