ATP SERBIAN OPEN
Dusan Lajovic concluded an incredible week at the Srpska Open on Sunday by winning his second tour-level title in Banja Luka. The Serbian defeated Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 32 minutes, ending the second seed’s winning streak of eight matches.
Lajovic, who defeated Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets in the semi-finals, started the match with great intensity in his first tour-level final of the season. He hit the ball aggressively, making Rublev move around the court, and maintained his composure in the third set. He eventually served out the match on his second attempt, securing his eighth victory over a Top 10 player.
“Honestly it was probably the toughest match I have had in the past six months. I felt drained,” Lajovic said. “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. I was just playing automatically and I tried to take the ball early on the forehand. I am thrilled and overwhelmed that I did it this week, that I won an ATP [Tour] title.
“The last time I was in a final was four years ago and I have been through a lot since then, lots of ups and downs. This was probably the most unexpected thing for me for this week. But on the other side I still believed in myself, even though I did not have the best last year. This victory means a lot.”