Novak Djokovic tested but prevails in Banja Luka opener
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Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to Luca Van Assche during the ATP 250 tournament in Banja Luka.
AFP
BANJA LUKA – Novak Djokovic brushed aside his elbow problem to beat French teenager Luca van Assche 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday in his opening match of the ATP Banja Luka tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The world No. 1 squandered three set points in the first set before van Assche took the tiebreak, but Djokovic broke twice in the second to force a deciding set.
He dropped serve right away to start the third set but then broke his opponent twice in a row, with the Serb grasping control to eventually put away the 18-year-old French youngster.
Djokovic had said on Monday that his elbow was not in “ideal condition” following a third-round exit last week at the Monte Carlo Masters, during which he was broken eight times by Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
After Wednesday’s match, the 35-year-old said his elbow was “fine... holding up well”.
“These conditions are not ideal for joints and my elbow, but I am glad that I managed to endure. I am healthy and eager for new victories.”
He added of his win: “It wasn’t easy. I couldn’t put any ball past him. He was on every single ball for a set and a half until I started to get some rhythm going and some tempo.
“I’m happy with the way I finished the match. Of course, I can always play better but a win is a win.”
Djokovic also praised his opponent as a “very promising player”.
“He has a bright future ahead of him, especially on this surface, he is very fast and agile,” he said.
“It’s normal to expect that new, young players will emerge, generational change is a normal thing in every sport, but I didn’t want to lose to an 18-year-old. It was an additional motivation for me.”
The Serb, who is bidding for a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open in May, will play countryman Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-finals.
In a boost to that quest, Rafael Nadal said on Thursday that he will miss the Madrid Masters later this month as he continues his recovery from a hip injury, further hampering his French Open preparations.
Elsewhere, world No. 16 Alexander Zverev was dumped out in the last 16 of the ATP tournament in Munich on Thursday, when he turned 26. The German lost 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to 82nd-ranked Christopher O’Connell of Australia.
In Stuttgart, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka said beating former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round will boost her preparation for Roland Garros.
The Belarusian won 6-2, 6-3, becoming the first player to book her spot in the quarter-finals.
The Australian Open winner said: “You play only tough matches from the first round (at the Grand Slams), so I think it’s a good tournament to play before going into the big tournaments.” AFP, REUTERS