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.
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. He said:
"I liked the way I managed to physically hold on and push through and
survive a thriller of almost three-and-a-half hours. That's the positive difference compared to Monte Carlo,
where I just wasn't able to physically sustain the third set. Today,
that was different. If there are positives, I think that's the one"
He further said:
"Playing an official match in front of your crowd... you feel the great support, which I had, and I'm very grateful for that. But at the same time, it's not simple. Even after so many years of experience and playing many times in front of the home crowd, you still feel nervous."
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