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Novak Djokovic will be playing in the 2023 Srpska Open Banja Luka after snubbing the Sunshine Double. The Serb’s vaccination status has landed him in hot water, forgoing participation in Indian Wells and the Miami Open ATP 1000 events.
Djokovic has set his sights on the European summer swing and clay court extravaganza to keep himself busy. The 22-time Grand Slam champion and world no. 2 tennis player has decided to play in the ATP 250 tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of the ATP 1000 tournament in Florida.
Banja Luka has hosted an ATP Challenger event since 2023 and get an upgrade to an ATP 250 tennis festival thanks to an interesting train of events. With the Novak Tennis Centre going through upgrades for its ATP 500 licence, the Srpska Open will be hosted in the city rather than in Belgrade.
The Srpska Open Banja Luka will be held from April 17th to 23rd, 2023 and will feature some of the top players in the world. Djokovic will headline the entry list, alongside 2022 champion Andrey Rublev, three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, and other formidable players such as Borna Coric, Miomir Kecmanovic, Tallon Griekspoor, Richard Gasquet, Jiri Lehecka, Benjamin Bonzi. Alex Molcan and Laslo Djere.
Tennis fans in Banja Luka will be treated to a spectacular show. Djokovic will be looking to reignite his rivalry with Rublev and show Wawrinka who the real claycourt king is.
The Road Back to 1
Djokovic was at the top of the ATP Rankings since January 30th, 2023, when he dethroned 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. He achieved this feat thanks to his triumph at the 2023 Australian Open, where he claimed his tenth title and his 22nd Grand Slam title overall.
Due to his complicated coronavirus vaccination status and the resulting travel restrictions, he has been unable to compete regularly and allowed Alcaraz to steal pole position from him after his Indian Wells triumph, but Djokovic doesn’t regret this. The 19-year-old Spaniard little work of Daniil Medvedev in the BNP Paribas Open to add another 1000 points to his tally and the number 1 status.
This added time in the number 1 slot saw Djokovic dethroning Steffi Graf for the title of most weeks spent at world number one. The record is unlikely to be taken away from him any time soon and for all his quirks, it further improves an impressive resume that already has 22 Grand Slams to boast.
Battle with Alcaraz
At 35, he is entering the next stage of his career. Roger Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal slipped out of the top 10. Andy Murray is making a comeback but he alone fights off the new pack for top billing.
Alcaraz will be in his crosshairs, for bragging rights and the number 1 spot. The duo avoided each other in the Australian Open as the youngster couldn’t participate due to injury. The Monte Carlo Masters will provide them with this opportunity and Djokovic preparing on clay courts to ready himself.
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