On Tap: Djokovic Top Seed at Banja Luka, Where He Will Bid for 94th Career Title

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday April 15, 2023

World No.1 Novak Djokovic shall be again on the clay subsequent week on the Inaugural Srpska Open in Banja Luka. The 22-time main champion, who fell to Lorenzo Musetti within the spherical of 16 at Monte-Carlo, enters a draw that features Andrey Rublev, Borna Coric, Jiri Lehecka, Miomir Kecmanovic Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet.

Djokovic will bid for his 94th title, which might tie him for third place on the ATP’s all-time title checklist with Ivan Lendl for third place.

Here is Djokovic’s projected path to the title:

R1 – Bye
R16 – Stan Wawrinka or Luca Van Assche
QF – [8] Gregoire Barrere or Dusan Lajovic or Filip Krajinovic
SF – [4] Miomir Kecmanovic or [6] Jiri Lehecka
F – [2] Rublev, [3] Coric or [5] Griekspoor

Djokovic owns a 16-2 file on the season, and has claimed titles at Adelaide and the Australian Open.

He struggled in opposition to Musetti in Monte-Carlo, surrendering eight breaks of serve whereas sporting a compression sleeve on his proper arm. He dismissed any harm issues after the loss, saying:

“I don’t think it’s catastrophic, but my feeling is bad right now because I lost the match,” Djokovic mentioned. “That’s all. Congrats to my opponent. I move on.”