Second seed Andrey Rublev won his third title of the season on Sunday, overcoming world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-0 in two hours and 29 minutes in the final of the Serbia Open.
The top seed overcame a challenge by Russian Karen Khachanov and progressed into the final of the Serbia Open with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in one hour and 59 minutes.
For the second straight day at the ATP 250 event, Novak battled back from a set and a break down, this time against seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic to advance to the semi-finals in his hometown Belgrade, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
World no.1 beat fellow Serb Laslo Djere 2-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) in Belgrade on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals at the Serbia Open. Next up for Novak is seventh seed and another young gun from Serbia, Miomir Kecmanovic.
An ATP 250 clay-court event will be held from April 18 to April 24 at the Novak Tennis Center. Nole is a top seed and has a first round BYE. He will open his bid for 87th tour-level title in R2 against compatriot Laslo Djere (ATP #50).
The third seed clinched the biggest victory of his career against world no.1, triumphing 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in three hours and 25 minutes to reach the Serbia Open final.
The world no.1 moved into the Serbia Open semi-finals on Friday following a 6-1, 6-3 victory over countryman Miomir Kecmanovic. He will next face Russian third seed Aslan Karatsev (H2H 1-0).
Top seed began his Serbia Open 2021 campaign with a routine 6-1, 6-3 win against Kwon Soonwoo to reach the last eight in his hometown. He will next face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Friday.
The ATP Tour returns to Belgrade for the first time since 2012. Novak, who has won the title in his hometown twice (2009, 2011), will play against Soonwoo Kwon (KOR, ATP #85) in R2.
18-time Grand Slam champion has revealed his partial schedule for the 2021 spring season. He will next play at Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and Serbia Open.
