BANJA LUKA Bosnia/Herzegovina: Novak Djokovic battled back from a set down to beat French teenager Luca Van Assche 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 in his opening match in Banja Luka on Wednesday.
The world No. 1 squandered three set points in the opener before Van Assche took the tie-break, but Djokovic broke twice in the second set to force a deciding set.
He dropped serve right away to start the third set but then broke Van Assche twice in a row, with Djokovic grasping control to eventually put away his 18-year-old opponent.
“It wasn’t easy. This probably will rank as the slowest court and slowest conditions I’ve ever played in. I didn’t expect this to be so slow,” said Djokovic.
“I couldn’t put any ball past him. He was on every single ball for a set and a half until I started to get some rhythm going and some tempo.”
He added: “I’m happy with the way I finished the match. Of course I can always play better but a win is a win.”
Djokovic praised his opponent as a “very promising player.”
“He (Van Assche) has a bright future ahead of him, especially on this surface, he is very fast and agile,” the 35-year-old said.
“It’s normal to expect that new, young players will emerge, generational change is a normal thing in every sport, but I didn’t want to lose to an 18-year-old. It was definitely an additional motivation for me.”
Former French Open junior champion Van Assche, the youngest player in the world’s top 100 at No. 87, had served Djokovic ample warning of his potential by beating Stan Wawrinka in round one.
Djokovic said Monday his elbow was not in “ideal condition” following a third-round exit last week at the Monte Carlo Masters, during which he was broken eight times by Lorenzo Musetti.
After Wednesday’s match, Djokovic said his elbow was “fine... holding up well.”
“These conditions are not ideal for joints and my elbow... but I am glad that I managed to endure. I am healthy and eager for new victories.”
Van Assche earned the first break of the match for a 5-4 lead but failed to serve out for the set. He then saved three set points at 5-6 before eventually taking a surprise lead.
For the second set Djokovic disposed of the black compression sleeve on his right arm he also wore in Monaco, sweeping through without offering Van Assche a single break opportunity.
Despite falling behind to begin the third set, Djokovic recovered swiftly and sealed victory after 2 hours and 38 minutes.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Djokovic also mentioned, jokingly, a possible future career as a coach.
Asked whom he would like to coach, Djokovic replied, smiling: “(Nick) Kyrgios,” with whom he once had an icy relationship.
“If I could coach Kyrgios, he would probably win five Grand Slams. But it would cost him a lot of money, too much money.”
The Serb, who is bidding for a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam title at the French Open next month, will play countryman Dusan Lajovic or Gregoire Barrere of France in the quarterfinals.
