Novak Djokovic avoids back-to-back defeats with comeback victory against Luca Van Assche at Banja Luka Open

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic battled from a set down to beat 18-year-old Luca Van Assche 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2 at the Banja Luka Open in Bosnia on Wednesday. Van Assche took the upper hand by winning the first set in a tie-break, but Djokovic withstood the early challenge from the teenager to rally from behind and avoid a second successive defeat in an entertaining two-hour, 38-minute clash.

Ad “It wasn’t easy,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “This would probably rank as the slowest court, slowest conditions I’ve ever played in, to be honest. ATP Banja LukaDjokovic issues fitness update, admits elbow 'not in ideal shape’YESTERDAY AT 08:38 “I couldn’t penetrate through the court.

I couldn’t put any ball past him.” Djokovic issued a fitness update ahead of the tournament, raising concerns over his right elbow he had surgery on five years ago, but was deemed fit enough to kickstart his Banja Luka Open campaign against Van Assche. This match came less than a week after his Monte Carlo Masters exit following a 4-6 7-5 6-4 defeat to Lorenzo Musetti in the last 16, and Djokovic was determined to get back on track during his first professional visit to Bosnia. After falling behind in the match, Djokovic fought back to take the second set, only to drop serve in the opening game of the deciding set.

The world No. 1 upped the tempo and took his game up a gear by playing with more depth and testing Van Assche’s court coverage. He stayed aggressive on return, which helped improve his season record to 17-2 and avoid a second successive defeat in ATP events for the first time since last April’s Monte Carlo Masters exit to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.