Djokovic Hoping to Hit Top Gear on Clay after Banja Luka Exit

Serbia's Novak Djokovic (C) waves as he arrives to play against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic, prior to their tennis quarter-final singles match at Sprska Tennis Open ATP 250 series tournament in Banja Luka on April 21, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic (C) waves as he arrives to play against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic, prior to their tennis quarter-final singles match at Sprska Tennis Open ATP 250 series tournament in Banja Luka on April 21, 2023. (AFP)
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Djokovic Hoping to Hit Top Gear on Clay after Banja Luka Exit

Serbia's Novak Djokovic (C) waves as he arrives to play against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic, prior to their tennis quarter-final singles match at Sprska Tennis Open ATP 250 series tournament in Banja Luka on April 21, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic (C) waves as he arrives to play against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic, prior to their tennis quarter-final singles match at Sprska Tennis Open ATP 250 series tournament in Banja Luka on April 21, 2023. (AFP)

Novak Djokovic was far from his best in his quarter-final defeat to Dusan Lajovic at the Srpska Open, but the Serb said he is still hopeful of finding his groove on clay before next month's French Open.

Djokovic had dropped just four games across his previous two meetings with compatriot Lajovic, but the world number one squandered several chances to get past his opponent on Friday, converting just one of 16 breakpoints as he fell to a 6-4 7-6(6) defeat.

The loss is Djokovic's second early exit from a tournament in as many weeks, following his third-round defeat to Lorenzo Musetti at the Monte Carlo Masters last week.

"Lajovic played well. On the other hand, I played much worse than I wanted to," Djokovic told reporters after the defeat in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"I cannot win matches against opponents who are this solid on this surface by playing like this.

"I didn't feel well on the court, my legs were slow and my footwork was torpid, many missed shots, totally without direction. I played well at times but I played noticeably under my level."

With Rafa Nadal having skipped a string of clay tournaments due to injury, Djokovic will be looking to build momentum ahead of the French Open where the Serbian will target a 23rd Grand Slam to go ahead of the Spaniard.

The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, begins on May 28.

"I hope to get into tip top shape for Roland Garros. I want to play my best tennis there," said Djokovic, who has also been struggling with an elbow injury.

"The conditions are totally different there in comparison with Monte Carlo and Banja Luka. There are still several weeks to practice and play.

"In the previous seasons, I've always had an unsatisfying and slow start on clay and then played much better tennis in the final stages. I hope to repeat the same pattern this year."



Barcelona Pair Casadó, Martínez Out of Spain’s Nations League Squad Over Injury

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
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Barcelona Pair Casadó, Martínez Out of Spain’s Nations League Squad Over Injury

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 16, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Giuliano Simeone in action with FC Barcelona's Marc Casado REUTERS/Juan Medina

Midfielder Marc Casadó and central defender Iñigo Martínez are out of Spain's Nations League quarter-final because of injury, the national soccer federation said Monday.
Defending champion Spain visits the Netherlands on Thursday and hosts them on Sunday in the return match.
Casadó hurt his right knee in the second half of Barcelona’s 4-2 win at Atletico Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday. National team coach Luis de la Fuente has replaced him with Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix García.
Barcelona teammate Martínez also has a right knee problem, though the defender finished the match against Atletico. He has been replaced for the Nations League matches by Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, a member of Spain’s under-21 squad.