There was speculation that Andrey Rublev would take a brief break following the biggest title of his career at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Instead, Rublev has apparently decided that momentum is more important than rest.
The world No. 6 stayed in the Srpska Open draw and kicked off his week with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of Juan Pablo Varillas on Thursday afternoon. Rublev saved the only two break points he faced to advance in one hour and 10 minutes and set up a quarterfinal contest against Damir Dzumhur.
Djokovic opens with three-set win
The top four seeds in Banja Luka earned first-round byes, so Rublev had three full days off after triumphing in Monte-Carlo.
Seeded first ahead of Rublev, Novak Djokovic followed up his bye with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over 18-year-old Frenchman Luca van Assche on Wednesday. Djokovic struck four aces without double-faulting and broke Van Assche six times to prevail after two hours and 39 minutes.
“It wasn’t easy,” Djokovic assessed. “This would probably rank as the slowest court, slowest conditions I’ve ever played in, to be honest. I couldn’t penetrate through the court. 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. I’m happy with the way I finished the match. Of course I can always play better, but a win is a win.”
The 35-year-old Serb will face compatriot Dusan Lajovic in the quarterfinals.
Rub might be the favorite at this point