World No 1 Djokovic upended by Lajovic in Banja Luka quarter-finals

World No 1 Novak Djokovic suffered another early clay-court exit as he was beaten 6-4, 7-6 (6) by fellow Serb Dusan Lajvic in the quarter-finals of the Banja Luka Open at the Tennis Klub Mladost on Friday afternoon.

Lajovic, ranked No 70, will face the winner of the match between Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, the No 4 seed, and Czech Jiri Lehecka, the No 6 seed, next.

“Lajovicplayed well,” Djokovic said, in quotes taken from the tournament website. “On the other hand I was way below my desired level, I can’t win (against) opponents who are so solid on this surface with this game.

“I didn’t even feel good physically on the court, slow, sluggish legs, a lot of missed balls, totally out of (sync). At times I played well, but well below my level.”

Lajovic: “Biggest win of my career”

“It’s the biggest win of my career,” Lajovic said, after coming from 6-3 down in the second-set tiebreak to clinch victory. It’s mixed emotions because I’m playing in my home town but it’s Novak, who’s a good friend and a hero of my country.

“Beating him, it’s something that I didn’t even think is going to be possible, but it happened.”

Lajovic suggests Djokovic’s elbow injury was a factor

There was no sign of the sleeve on Djokovic’s right elbow that he wore in Monte-Carlo but on the eve of the event in Banja Luka he admitted he was not at 100 percent.

And Lajovic said the elbow may have been a factor as he claimed his first ever win over Djokovic, having been thrashed in their previous meetings.

“I think he had some issues with his first serve, probably with the elbow and his percentage of the first serve was not the greatest, Lajovic said. “So I was able to use that to my advantage. But overall I think it was very good tennis from my side.”

For world No 1 Djokovic, it was his first defeat to another Serbian player since he lost to Janko Tipsarevic at the Madrid Masters in 2012.

Lajovic had beaten Filip Krajinovic (6-2, 4-6, 6-4) and defeated Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, the No 8 seed (6-3, 6-0) ahead of his victory.

In the previous round of the Banja Luka tournament, Djokovic won against Frenchman Luca Van Assche (6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2).

Banja Luka ATP250, other last eight results (Tennis Klub Mladost, clay, EUR 562.815, most recent results first):

• Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Jiri Lehecka
• Andrey Rublev (2) beat Damir Dzumhur (WC): 7-5, 6-3
• Alex Molcan beat Laslo Djere: 6-2, 4-6, 7-5