Srpska Open: Lajovic halts red-hot Rublev to win Banja Luka title
World number 70 Lajovic, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, snapped Rublev’s eight-match winning run that began with his triumph last week in Monte Carlo.
Published : Apr 23, 2023 21:53 IST , Banja Luka, Bosnia And Herzegovina - 1 MIN READ
Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic (in pic) beat Russia’s Andrey Rublev to win the Srpska Open in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday.
Dusan Lajovic upset the in-form Andrey Rublev in the Banja Luka final on Sunday, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to clinch his second career ATP title.
World number 70 Lajovic, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, snapped Rublev’s eight-match winning run that began with his triumph last week in Monte Carlo.
Lajovic led 5-1 in the deciding set but had to hold off a spirited comeback from Rublev before securing victory after two hours and 32 minutes.
“Honestly it was probably the toughest match I have had in the past six months. I felt drained,” the 32-year-old Lajovic said.
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“From 5-1 in the third I could not feel my legs and felt a bit dizzy.
“I knew he was going to fight but somehow I managed to pull it out in the last game. I wasn’t even thinking in the last game.”
Lajovic’s only other title also came on clay at Umag in 2019.