‘One of the best places for Serbians to perform’: Novak Djokovic basses in Banja Luka adulation

Novak Djokovic was clear he wanted to move on quickly from his third-round loss against Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte-Carlo Masters last week. The World No. 1 will have the chance to do so in Banja Luka and he is looking forward to the tournament.

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The Serbian superstar is the top seed this week at the Banja Luka Open. He told a news conference that he has enjoyed the atmosphere in Bosnia and Herzegovina since he first visited the country more than a decade ago.

“It’s great to be here. I’ve been to Banja Luka several times in the past, once to meet the President and receive the Medal of Honor and then again in 2009, I lost to Victor in an exhibition match at an indoor facility here. Troicki,” Djokovic said.

“So I remember those two meetings very well,” he said.

During practice on Monday, it was clear how thrilled the local fans were to see Djokovic. There was a large crowd of fans behind the barricades to watch the Serbian prepare for the ATP 250.

“People welcome me wholeheartedly and give a lot of love and support. So I’m very excited to come here because I think it’s one of the best places for our Serbian tennis players and athletes,” he said. , to be able to perform normally where we get so much love and support from the local people,” Djokovic said.

Despite the loss to Musetti, Djokovic has started the season well. The 35-year-old is 16-2 in 2023, including titles in Adelaide and the Australian Open.

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Djokovic, a 93-time Tour-level titleholder, will reach 1,050 Tour-level match wins this week if he reaches the final. Only four other men in the Open Era have accomplished that milestone: Jimmy Connors (1,274), Roger Federer (1,251), Rafael Nadal (1,068) and Ivan Lendl (1,068).

The 35-year-old will make his tournament debut in Banja Luka against ‘NextGenATP’ Frenchman Luka Van Assche, who beat world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)