Serbia Open LIVE: Djokovic vs Djere Live – Novak Djokovic demonstrated all of his battling qualities to overcome a slow start against fellow Serb Laslo Djere and complete a dramatic second-round comeback at the Serbia Open in Belgrade on Wednesday. Follow Serbia Open Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
The World No. 1 struggled to find his best level for much of his maiden tour-level meeting with Djere, but the 20-time Grand Slam champion dug deep to clinch a 2-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) win and keep his hopes of a third title at the ATP 250 event alive at the Novak Tennis Center.
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
A thriller in Belgrade!
Novak Djokovic comes back to beat Laslo Djere in a 3-hour match 😲 (via @TennisTV)pic.twitter.com/Xk6ivTwL1b
— Buzzer (@buzzer) April 20, 2022
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
After second-round defeat at last week’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic will be delighted to be back to winning ways in front of his home fans. Just like in his loss in Monaco against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Djokovic was slow out the blocks, but this time he found his range in time to stay with his opponent and eventually overhauled Djere in a three-hour, 22-minute marathon.
Djokovic could not match a strong start from the World No. 50 as Djere carved out break point opportunities in all four of the top seed’s service games in the opening set. Converting two of them was enough for Djere to take the set, as he struck the ball powerfully against an opponent struggling to settle in just his fifth match of 2022.
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
The World No. 1 Novak Djokovic loses the first set 6-2 in the #SerbiaOpen 👀
(via @TennisTV)pic.twitter.com/ojXdObPwIJ
— Buzzer (@buzzer) April 20, 2022
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
Djokovic upped his level in the second set and let out a roar after reclaiming a break to level at 4-4 as the crowd began to anticipate a trademark comeback from the legendary 34-year-old. He missed three set points in the 12th game but recovered from that disappointment to clinch the tie-break to force a decider.
A three-hour thriller!
Novak Djokovic is into the quarterfinals after winning his first clay court match of the season. pic.twitter.com/DJX90YH23j
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) April 20, 2022
Djokovic was never at his imperious best but stayed solid off both wings and took a nervy final set in a tie-break despite stubborn resistance from a tiring Djere, who produced a high-class performance as he came close to the biggest win of his career.
The World No. 50 will nonetheless rue a couple of costly misses at crucial moments. He netted a short forehand into an open court when serving at 4-3, 40/15 to let Djokovic back into the second set, and then missed a similar forehand when 4/3 ahead in the third-set tie-break.
Serbia Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic advances to quarterfinals, scrapes past young Laslo Djere on COMEBACK on home turf
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