Third-time unlucky Laslo Djere hopeful ‘2023 season will definitely be better’ after tough Tata Open loss

Laslo Djere stood outside the court with his hands behind his back, his shoulders drooping. He spoke with a voice that was weakened at the sight of his own defeat or to be more precise, missed opportunities. The 27-year-old was hoping to get third time lucky in Pune on Wednesday. Twice before at Tata Open Maharashtra, the Serb lost in the round of 16. However, after a rather impressive start to 2023 with a win against fifth-seeded Alex Molcan on Monday, where he was near-untouchable on his serve, Djere was expected to break the barrier. Alas, the unfortunate streak continued. He lost to qualifier Maximilian Marterer 7-6(5), 6-2 on Court 2 at Pune’s Balewadi Stadium. Tough losses can often be disheartening. Djere’s body language spoke the same, but he remains positive for the rest of 2023, without burdening himself with hopes of delivering a better season.

This was Djere’s third visit to the city. Both in 2018 and 2019, he had sailed through the opening rounds, beating Marius Copil in a tight three-setter and India’s Arjun Kadhe in straight sets, respectively. But in both editions, he lost in the next round in straight sets.

In the 5th Tata Open, Djere scripted a superb start. Handed a Centre Court appearance, against higher-ranked Molcan, to whom he had lost last season in Umag on his favourite clay court, Djere hammered down 12 aces, and won 83 per cent points behind first-serve. Such was his dominance that the Serb lost just two points behind both his first and second serve.

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The 2019 Rio Open title winner started off in a similar fashion against Marterer, who was playing his fourth match at the event after having made it through the qualifiers. He had 92 per cent win on first-serve. The German remained at par with him, with neither offering even a break-point opportunity, before snatching just one moment of error from the Serb which eventually stood as the difference. Marterer wrapped up the opening set with a win in the tie-break.

Djere failed to recover from the tight loss in the tie-breaker leaving Marterer to capitalise on the opportunity. The world no.159 created nine break point opportunities and converted twice before holding serve to win the set 6-2.

“My opponent played very well throughout the whole match. In the second set, when he had the second serve he played really well, and aggressively, next to the line. First set was very close. I served well and got my service game very easily but got unlucky in a few moments. He kept his level in the second set as well but I dropped mine,” said Djere in an interaction with Hindustan Times at the Tata Open as he assessed his performance.

Djere had broken into the top 50 early into 2022, but soon dropped in ranking following a tough couple of months on the court before reaching his first ATP final in more than a year and fourth overall, at Winston-Salem.

“It was a difficult year. I started badly. I had a couple of losses in a row at the beginning of the season. It was mentally tough. When the clay court season started, I began to win a few matches, which was good. After that, it was a rollercoaster I would say. It was a good season, but all in all, I wouldn’t say it was an extremely successful season,” he said as he reluctantly recalled the 2022 season.

The season had almost included what could have been one of the most memorable wins of his career so far, when he went a set and a break up at 6-2, 4-3 against Novak Djokovic in Belgrade. But Nole being Nole, he recovered in a magnificent manner to win 2-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4). Djere however saw “no point” in recollecting that game or the experience after the tough loss against Marterer but remains hopeful of turning things around in the rest of 2023.

“I did good preparations even though last season was difficult I think which of course gives me some lessons for the upcoming season and some experience on how to handle tough moments. So yes, I am positive. I made a few changes to my team last year and it is functioning really well. So, I do not want to put any big expectation or pressure on myself but I am hopeful that this season will definitely be better,” he concluded.