Novak Djokovic's loss in Banja Luka raised concerns as the Serbian battles an injury and struggles to find form on clay.
Just a week after a shocking early exit at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic's unimpressive return to the clay courts continued at the 2023 Srpska Open. With only two matches won across two tournaments on the red dirt, the world number one is far from his best.
Compounding his poor form, Djokovic is also dealing with a right elbow injury, which hasn't troubled him for years, until now. During the 2023 Srpska Open quarterfinals, Djokovic suffered a two-set loss to compatriot Dusan Lajovic, leaving little room for optimism.
The Serbian was candid about his performance, admitting that he played passively and made numerous errors.
"I had my chances, but I didn’t take them. I played quite passively, with many mistakes and that resulted in the defeat. I was way below my desired level. I can’t win against opponents who are so solid on this surface with this game."
Djokovic also revealed he struggled physically on the court, feeling slow and sluggish, and once again empasized that his level in Banja Luka was far from his best as he also struggled with slow courts in Banja Luka.
"I didn’t even feel good physically on the court: I felt slow, with sluggish legs; I missed a lot of balls and was totally out of shot. At times I played well, but well below my level."
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