14-year-old Novak Djokovic fan Nikola Djosic features in Serbia Open qualifiers, becomes 1st player born in 2007 to play an ATP match
Switzerland's Nikola Djosic, 14, became the first player born in 2007 to play an ATP match, when he took the court in front of his idol Novak Djokovic's fans in Belgrade on Sunday.
Djosic, who has a 10-0 win/loss record on the Junior circuit in 2022, was granted a wildcard for the qualifying rounds of the Serbia Open. Unfortunately, the Swiss succumbed to a 6-1, 6-2 defeat against fellow Djokovic fan Flavio Cobolli.
The European under 14 junior champion Nikola #Djosic will make his pro debut at 14. The wild card will play against Cobolli in the qualies of Belgrade ATP 250.
The youngest ATP match winner (main draw, not qualies) is Franco Davis. He was 15 years, 1 month at the time. https://t.co/efMJzTgrq3
The 14-year-old has practiced in the past with the World No. 1 on several occasions in his hometown, as evidenced by his many updates on social media. The wildcard's Instagram bio proudly proclaims that he is a fan of the 20-time Grand Slam champion, while his photos alongside the Serb mention how excited he has been to share space with the icon.
"Thanks for this amazing day. I can't believe it. Thank you all," Djosic wrote on Instagram in a September post.
With Nikola Djosic failing to make it to the main draw, former World No. 30 Franco Davin remains the youngest player to have won a match in the main draw of an ATP event. The Argentinian recorded his first victory at the age of 15 years and one month at the 1985 Argentina Open.
El suizo Nikola Djosic se convertirá en el primer tenista nacido en el año 2007 en disputar un partido ATP. Recibió un WC y jugará la qualy del ATP 250 de Belgrado ante Flavio Cobolli.
Djosic es fanático de Novak Djokovic y entrenó con él en febrero de este año. https://t.co/WiS2e7ZZ3F
Novak Djokovic to begin quest for a third title at the Serbia Open
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will soon begin his quest for a third title in front of his home fans at the Serbia Open. Having won the title in 2009 and 2011, the World No. 1 fell to an unexpected defeat against Aslan Karatsev in the semifinals last year.
The Serb will headline the event this year alongside Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Karatsev, while defending champion Matteo Berrettini has opted out due to hand surgery.
#Djokovic draw in Belgrade:
1R: Bye
2R: Medjedovic/Djere
QF: Kecmanovic/Thiem
SF: Khachanov/Krajinovic
F: Rublev/Fognini/Garin
The 20-time Grand Slam champion has played only four matches so far this year. After losing to Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championship, he bowed out in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
#45 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beats #1 Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 in Djokovic’s first match at the Monte Carlo Masters.
#1 Djokovic now has a record of 2-2 on the year.
Strange times in men’s tennis.
Being the top seed at the Serbia Open, the World No. 1 received a bye in his first round and will take on either Hamad Medjedovic or Laslo Djere in his opener. The Serb is on a collision course with former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals.