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Struggling with a right elbow injury, Novak Djokovic still decided to participate at the home ATP 250 event in Banja Luka. In the second round, Novak faced Luca Van Assche, the youngest top-100 player, and prevailed 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 in two hours and 38 minutes.
World no. 1 lost a tight opener after squandering three set points on the return in the 12th game. Luca showed his rich talent and ability to stay in touch with the world's best player and outplay him in the exchanges. However, Novak stepped in from set number two and overpowered the young gun for a place in the quarter-final.
Djokovic got broken two times and delivered six breaks, mainly in sets two and three where he left his rival behind. Nothing separated them in the encounter's opening eight games, with no chances for the returners.
Novak Djokovic ousted Luca Van Assche in three sets in Banja Luka.
The Frenchman held at 15 in game eight and locked the result at 4-4.
Luca cracked a backhand down the line winner in game nine and created break chances. He seized the first after Novak's forehand error and served for the opener at 5-4. Djokovic stayed calm and broke back at the last moment to prolong the set and his chances.
Van Assche served to stay in the set at 5-6 and faced a stern test. A teenager denied three set points with nice hitting and held to introduce a tie break. Novak led 3-1 before losing ground, playing a couple of loose shots and allowing Luca to clinch the set with a service winner at 6-4 after 73 minutes!
Djokovic made a fresh start in the second set, landing 17 out of 18 first serves in and keeping the pressure on the other side. World no. 1 moved in front with a break in game three and held at 15 with a forehand crosscourt winner in game six for 4-2.
The Serb forced the rival's mistake in the eighth game to open a 5-3 gap and earned three set points on the return in the next one. Novak seized the second to wrap up the set 6-3 and force a decider. They traded breaks at the start of the final set, and Djokovic grabbed another break in game four to move 3-1 in front.
Van Assche reduced the gap to 4-2 in game six and served to stay in the match in game eight. Novak secured another break to seal the set 6-2 and move into the quarter-final.