By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday April 15, 2023
World No.1 Novak Djokovic will be back on the clay next week at the Inaugural Srpska Open in Banja Luka. The 22-time major champion, who fell to Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16 at Monte-Carlo, enters a draw that includes Andrey Rublev, Borna Coric, Jiri Lehecka, Miomir Kecmanovic Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet.
Djokovic will bid for his 94th title, which would tie him for 3rd place on the ATP’s all-time title list 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 record on the season, and has claimed titles at Adelaide and the Australian Open.
He struggled against Musetti in Monte-Carlo, surrendering eight breaks of serve while wearing a compression sleeve on his right arm. He brushed off any injury concerns after the loss, saying:
“I don't think it's catastrophic, but my feeling is bad right now because I lost the match,” Djokovic said. “That's all. Congrats to my opponent. I move on.”